Banned Books Week: a celebration of intellectual freedom

Abstract

Purpose

To provide background on annual Banned Books Week's event that promotes intellectual freedom issues in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

Historical and philosophical overview, including current celebration activities.

Findings

This year the American Library Association was notified of 547 challenges, up from 459 last year. Three of the ten most challenged books were cited for homosexual themes, the highest in a decade. Most of the books featured during Banned Books Week were challenged, but not actually banned. This is due to the efforts of librarians, teachers and booksellers to maintain them in collections.

Originality/value

Banned Books Week draws attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.

Citation

Long, S.A. (2006), "Banned Books Week: a celebration of intellectual freedom", New Library World, Vol. 107 No. 1/2, pp. 73-75. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074800610639058