Banning and challenging literature in public libraries and schools is not just a thing of the past: regrettably, books are regularly challenged and removed from shelves across the United States, even in 2017. That’s why the the Library is supporting the American Library Association's annual Banned Books Week — which honors the right to read — from September 24-30, 2017. If you want to join us in standing up for freedom of information, here’s how.

Be a #RebelReader

Show your support for banned books and get a chance to win literary prizes with the ALA’s Rebel Reader Twitter Tournament. You can take a selfie with a banned book, tell your personal story about the power of words, support your favorite author of a banned book, and much more using the hashtag #RebelReader on Twitter to participate. Learn more about participation and prizes here.

Read a Banned Book

To support some of the most frequently banned books or the most challenged books of 2016, check out one of these titles from your local library. All of these books were challenged in American libraries and school systems, and in some cases, banned outright.

This One Summer, Jillian Tamaki & Mariko Tamaki

Drama, Raina Telgemeier

George, Alex Gino

I Am Jazz, Jessica Herthel, Jazz Jennings, & Shelagh McNicholas

Two Boys Kissing, David Levithan

The Harry Potter Series, J.K. Rowling

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou

To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee

The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger

The Color Purple, Alice Walker

Take Our Quiz

In honor of Banned Books Week (September 24–30, 2017), test your knowledge of banned and challenged books with this quiz.