Banned Books Week is an annual celebration of the freedom to read. It was launched in 1982 as a response to a growing number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries. Celebrate with us!
“The freedom to choose or reject ideas, to read books of our choice…is the very bedrock of our free society.” ~Kurt Vonnegut
“With the escalation in attempts to ban books in libraries, schools, and bookstores around the country, George Orwell’s cautionary tale “1984” serves a prescient warning about the dangers of censorship. This year’s theme reminds us that the right to read belongs to all of us, that censorship has no place in contemporary society, and that we must defend our rights.” ~ American Library Association
“The 2025 theme of Banned Books Week serves as a reminder that censorship efforts persist to this day,” ALA President Cindy Hohl said. “We must always come together to stand up for the right to read.”
ALA Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024
“The American Library Association documented 821 attempts to censor materials and services at libraries, schools, and universities in 2024. The most common reasons for challenges were false claims of illegal obscenity for minors; inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes; and dealing with topics of race, racism, inclusivity, equity, and social justice. Of the 2,452 unique titles that were challenged or banned in 2024, here are the top 10 most frequently targeted.” -American Library Association
All annotations are provided by the American Library Association
Freedom to Read — Local Challenges
In support of the freedom to read, the Indianapolis Public Library seeks to share information about challenged books during banned books week. The books on this list have been challenged locally at the Indianapolis Public Library. We’ve included the reason for the challenges, and a brief description of the library’s response to the challenges. It includes a mix of books for children, teens and adults. Content warning: The descriptions in the list contain mature content.
IndyStar September 24, 2024: Hoosiers Challenged These 346 Books at Indiana Libraries Last Year. Is Your Favorite Listed?
Celebrating the Freedom to Read in 2023 with John Green
We hosted #1 New York Times bestselling author and Indianapolis resident, John Green and former Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) educator and Indiana State Senator Andrea Hunley (District 46) on October 2, 2023 at Central Library. To a packed house, John and Andrea discussed the importance of protecting our freedom to read.
Memorable Highlights:
- What we read shapes what we think. The best example of this in a book is Fahrenheit 451.
- Libraries don’t exist for everyone to be comfortable with every book in the library. I have profound disagreements with some books in the library, and that’s ok.
- When people tell you who they are, believe them.
- There is power in the story. Structures of power try to take stories. Books that get banned are often the most needed. We have to fight to keep them in libraries.
- I am heartened by all the people working on our problems. Look for the people trying to address these problems. Find hope in that.
- Nothing can be truly neutral, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t work toward an array of voices. You can’t be neutral, but you can be inclusive.
- If we are going to make progress together, we have to assume a position of a good faith conversation.
Green’s community discussion underscores the importance of unrestricted access to information and the power of literature to challenge conventional norms.
Green’s young adult (YA) novel Looking for Alaska is listed among the American Library Association’s most banned books in 2022, and it has been referenced in nationwide discussions on book banning and reshelving in schools and public libraries. His YA novel, The Fault In Our Stars, has also been challenged and pulled from the shelves of school library collections and public libraries.
At The Indianapolis Public Library, Green’s titles are on the shelf in the Teen collection, circulating and in demand. Listen to The Indianapolis Public Library’s CEO, Gregory A. Hill, Sr., share the Library’s role in protecting a community’s freedom to read.
WFYI Presents a Documentary: Read or Restrict
Conservative activists and parents have put pressure on local schools and library boards to remove certain books from their collections. Many of the targeted titles feature LGBTQ and other minority characters, beloved by young adult readers who want to see themselves reflected in literature. Critics of these titles label them as obscene or inappropriate for kids. But who gets to decide?
The film includes interviews with:
- Jason Aukerman, Center for Ray Bradbury Studies
- Micah Beckwith, Life Church & former Hamilton County Library board member
- Jonathan Friedman, PEN America
- Leah Johnson, Young Adult novelist and owner of Loudmouth Books
- Diane Rogers, Indiana Library Federation
- Jim Tomes, Indiana Senator
Watch the documentary Read or Restrict. Aired March 12, 2023.
Dig Deeper
If you want to dig deeper about our mission as a library you can read the Library Bill of Rights stating the rights of library users to intellectual freedom and the role public libraries play to support those rights. For more information about banned and challenged books, visit ala.org/bbooks. You might also find interesting The Freedom to Read Statement, which explains why the freedom to read is essential to our democracy. To learn more, browse our book list How Censorship Impacts the First Amendment. IndyPL’s own Materials Selection Policy is also available.