By Susan Powers and Aparna Zambare
Banned Books Week 2019 is September 22-28. The event is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and Amnesty International. This year’s theme, “Censorship Leaves Us in the Dark: Keep the Light On!” reminds us to stand up to censorship and celebrate the freedom to read! Reading banned books helps us learn about those who are different from us, overcome the fear of the unknown, and better understand significant moments in human history.
Each year the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom compiles a list of books that have been challenged. There were 483 books challenged or banned in 2018. The most challenged books make up this year’s Top Eleven. Read more about Banned Books Week at the ALA advocacy website.
CMU Libraries has many books in the collections that have been challenged or banned. Take a look at this list and read a banned book this week!
