Banned or Challenged Books: Welcome

A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials.

Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. As such, they are a threat to freedom of speech and choice.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted with removal or restrictions in libraries and schools. While books have been and continue to be banned, part of the Banned Books Week celebration is the fact that, in a majority of cases, the books have remained available. This happens only thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who stand up and speak out for the freedom to read.    

From "Banned Books Week" (American Library Association)

There are four major types of libraries:

1. Academic libraries serve colleges and universities.
2. Public libraries serve cities and towns of all types.
3. School libraries serve students from Kindergarten to grade 12.
4. Special libraries are in specialized environments, such as hospitals, corporations, museums, the military, private business, and the government.

Further details on the occupation of librarianship (including salary, job outlook, descriptions of the work) is in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

There are more than 117,000 libraries throughout the U.S. and 158,000 librarians. Types of libraries include schools, colleges, hospitals, law firms, businesses, museums, and the government.

Powell, Jill. "Books & Bytes: Librarians as Information Managers: Types of Libraries." Cornell University Libraries, Ithaca NY. 27 Jun 2019. Web. 12 July 2019.

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

From "About" (Banned Books Week)