Banned Books Week 2018

September 23 - 29 is Banned Books Week, a time in which we can celebrate our freedom to read! Events planned include a lunch time Read-Out and an exhibit in the Armacost Library.

The American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom keeps track of challenges to books in the United States and has published the top ten banned and challenged books for 2017. Banned Book Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in challenges to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries.

While a "challenge" is an attempt to remove or restrict access to material, a "ban" is the actual removal of material. Although the reasons for challenging materials are wide and varied, recent requests to remove books generally refer to violence, offensive language, sexually explicit content, religious viewpoint, or the representation of gender roles and gender identity.

This year's Banned Books Week urges us to consider how banning books silences stories. Join us for Banned Books week at the following events:

Banned Books Read Out
When: Wednesday, September 26, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Outside the Irvine Commons
Members of the community will read from their favorite banned or challenged book. Stop and listen for a spell, or join in the freedom to read. Banned and challenged books will be available for perusal.

Banned Books Exhibit
When: All week
Where: Library entrance, 2nd floor
The Armacost Library will highlight banned and challenged literature.

Banned Books Week events are sponsored by Armacost Library, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Johnston Center for Integrative Studies, and Sigma Tau Delta.