Every autumn, libraries and readers across the county pause to celebrate our freedom to read. Banned Books Week (October 5-11) isn’t just an inventory of books challenged or removed from shelves; it’s also an opportunity to acknowledge how the quiet company of a good book can offer solace, expand our worlds, and reflect our shared humanity. This year's theme, “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights,” a nod to George Orwell’s dystopian classic, speaks to the urgency of the moment. It’s a reminder that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives each of us the right to explore the stories and ideas of others, and that no person or entity can take that right away.
In 2024, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom recorded 821 attempts nationwide to remove or restrict books and other materials in libraries. Although this number represents a decrease from the record high reported in 2023, it’s still the third-highest number of challenged titles since the organization began compiling such data in 1990.
It's clear that the current wave of book challenges is a coordinated effort, not a spontaneous one. Organized campaigns were behind nearly 72% of these attempts. In comparison, parents initiated about 16% of the challenges, and library patrons fewer than 5%. This organized push led to more than 4,000 titles being targeted in 2024, with many of them focusing on LGBTQIA+ lives and communities of color.
At Skokie Public Library, we believe that access to information and resources is essential to a vibrant, engaged community. Intellectual freedom is one of our core values, and we don’t remove materials simply because they’re controversial or unpopular. A book that unsettles one reader may very well inspire another, and we trust our patrons to make their own choices. Banned Books Week is a chance to affirm this commitment and to stand with readers everywhere in defending the freedom to read.
This week is a potent reminder that everyone has a role to play in protecting the freedom to read. You can pick up a challenged book and experience it for yourself, support advocacy efforts through organizations like the Freedom to Read Foundation and Unite Against Book Bans, or show up at local library and school board meetings, where many challenges begin. Even small acts like writing a letter, speaking up in conversation, or voicing support for libraries can make a difference.
This year’s theme, “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights,” reminds us that when we champion access to books, we uphold access to ideas, diverse voices, and the very foundations of a free, democratic society.
