Banned Books Week September 22-28, 2024
In 1982, the American Library Association launched the first annual Banned Book Week celebration in response to the surge in banned and challenged books in libraries and schools across the country. Since that time, the ALA has compiled a yearly list of the Top 10 most challenged books, and the reasons they are challenged or removed. Below are some of the top banned or challenged books of 2023. All of these are available in our Library or at your Des Plaines Public Library.
According to the New York Times in April 2024, "Amid an explosion of books bans across the country, the association counted more than 4,200 challenged titles, which is the most in a single year since it began tracking this information more than two decades ago. In the years leading up 2021, when the increase really took off, the average number of titles challenged in a given year was about 275, according to the library association."
If you want to participate in the challenge, here are the rules and need to know things:
1. Read a banned or challenged book
2. Write a review (2-5 sentences), including a sentence about why it is important that this book be accessible to anyone who wants to read it. Here is an EXAMPLE
3. Log in to your Library Catalog, search up the title you are reviewing, and then submit your review for that title.
4. You can submit multiple reviews for multiple books
5. With each review, your name will be entered for the prize Drawing on the 31st of December
6. Drawing Prize: Banned Book T-Shirts and Swag Bags!
According to the New York Times in April 2024, "Amid an explosion of books bans across the country, the association counted more than 4,200 challenged titles, which is the most in a single year since it began tracking this information more than two decades ago. In the years leading up 2021, when the increase really took off, the average number of titles challenged in a given year was about 275, according to the library association."
If you want to participate in the challenge, here are the rules and need to know things:
1. Read a banned or challenged book
2. Write a review (2-5 sentences), including a sentence about why it is important that this book be accessible to anyone who wants to read it. Here is an EXAMPLE
3. Log in to your Library Catalog, search up the title you are reviewing, and then submit your review for that title.
4. You can submit multiple reviews for multiple books
5. With each review, your name will be entered for the prize Drawing on the 31st of December
6. Drawing Prize: Banned Book T-Shirts and Swag Bags!