Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read and gives readers the chance to celebrate books that have been banned in the past. From September 3 to October 6 hundreds of libraries and bookstores around the country draw attention to the problem of censorship by housing events and displays.
The program's website states, "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. More than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982."
Books that have been banned include, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Of Mice and Men and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
The week long celebration is sponsored by the American Library Association. Barbara Jones, Director for Intellectual Freedom at the ALA Headquarters in Chicago said to Independent Publisher, "We invite all fifty states to discuss their support for Banned Books Week," Jones said. "There are funny and inspiring stories, and it is wonderful to see we have support across the country. In spite of the politics going on at the moment, there is still a groundswell of support for intellectual freedom."
Cities are doing their own part to create events for Banned Books Week. City Lights Book Store in San Francisco is posting videos of local authors and reading their favorite one-time banned books.
Banned Books Week has spread out of the U.S and other countries such as the UK, Finland and Norway are also in participation.
Also tied into Banned Books Week is Banned Websites Awareness Day on October 3.
