Banned Books Week FAQs

What You Need to Know About Banned Books Week

When is Banned Books Week?

Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is an annual event, which is held the last week in September.

Who sponsors Banned Books Week?

The sponsors of Banned Books Week are the American Booksellers Association, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of American Publishers, the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the National Association of College Stores. Banned Books Week is also endorsed by the Library of Congress Center for the Book.

When and why was Banned Books Week established?

According to the American Library Association,

"Observed since 1982, the annual event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted.

Banned Books Week (BBW) celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met."

For the many libraries that observe Banned Books Week, it's a chance to educate the public about their freedom to read and challenges to that freedom.

What does the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Say?

The First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Where can I obtain more information?

See my Censorship / Banned Books directory.