Banned Books Week 2025

Banned Books Week has been around for a while, since the American Library Association (ALA) created it in 1982. It’s a perfect time to celebrate intellectual freedom and the right to read what we choose.

In the last few years, cases of book banning and censorship have crested to a new high. Small, motivated groups have tried to ban books they haven’t even read, in libraries they don’t normally use. Thankfully, community members, librarians, and teachers have been able to keep books on the shelves in some places. But that is not true everywhere.

Readers, including children, suffer when they do not see themselves in the books they read. They can’t learn about the world they live in when information is not available to them. That leads to a weaker democracy at the same time we need a thoughtful, educated voter base. That is why it’s crucial that we stand up for the freedom to speak, write, and access books and information.

What can you do? Start by getting a library card and using it at your local library, or one that provides online services. Next, say thank you to your public and school librarians. If you have more time and energy, join Unite Against Book Bans or another group to learn other actions you can take to support the freedom to read.

Here are some links to explore:

ALA Banned Books Week https://www.ala.org/bbooks/banned

Unite Against Book Bans https://www.ala.org/bbooks/banned

Authors Against Book Bans https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com

PEN America Book Bans page https://pen.org/book-bans/?msclkid=b2a7a157fc511fff022fc98cb139887c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=ad_grant&utm_campaign=awareness

Alaska Authors Against Book Bans opinion piece https://www.adn.com/opinions/2025/09/25/opinion-banning-books-undercuts-learning-and-democracy-it-remains-a-threat-everywhere-including-here-in-alaska/

Thank you for reading this, and for supporting the freedom to read!