September 18 – 24 is Banned Books Week, an annual celebration of our freedom to read in the United States, as well as an opportunity to bring awareness to books that have historically or recently been challenged in our country. This year, though, Banned Books Week holds more meaning than ever, as attempts to ban books in schools, school libraries and public libraries surge nationwide.
According to a recent report from the American Library Association, there have been 681 attempts to ban library materials in 2022 alone, targeting 1651 unique titles. These numbers, alongside those from 2021, are the highest seen in the 20 years that ALA has been recording statistics.
AACPL affirms and supports our customers' freedom and responsibility to choose library materials for use according to their needs, individual tastes, or family values.
This week, we invite you to read a book that’s recently been the target of a banning attempt to form your own opinion.