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Banned Books Week

Celebrate ALA's annual Banned Books Week, September 18-24, 2022

Upcoming Events

Banned Books Week Display
September 13-26 in the Library wall display case.

Banned Books Read-Out
Thursday, September 22, 5-7pm
​Library Lobby
Pick your favorite book and register here!

Talking about Banned Books Week

Listen to Journalism Professor Marcy Burstiner and Masters of Library Science students Violet McCrigler and Nicki Viso discuss Banned Books Week and the upcoming Banned Books Read-Out on the KHSU Magazine radio program.
Nicki Viso, Violet McCrigler, Marcy Burstiner on KHSU Magazine

Find Your Freedom to Read

This Library Celebrates Banned Books Week

If a book be false in its facts, disprove them; if false in its reasoning, refute it. But for God's sake, let us freely hear both sides if we choose.--Thomas Jefferson, 3rd US president, architect, and author (1743-1826)

Celebrate your freedom to read with a book from any of the challenged books lists and read more about banned and challenged books on the ALA Banned Book FAQ.

Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2021

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021. Of the 1,597 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:

  1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
    Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images
  2. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
  3. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
  4. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
    Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
  5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and because it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda
  6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references and use of a derogatory term
  7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
    Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women
  8. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
    Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit
  9. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
    Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content.
  10. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit. 

Banned Books Read-Out

Coming Thursday, September 22, 2022, 5:00-7:00pm
Pick what you want to read and join us in the Nordstrom Lobby, Library 1st floor!

Register here to reserve your spot!

Can't attend but want to submit a short video clip? Email an mp4 version to Garrett.Purchio@humboldt.edu and we'll show it during the event and  include it in our digital archives.

More information in our blog post, Cal Poly Humboldt Library Set to Host Banned Books Read Out

Library Bill of Rights

“Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.”

Article 3, Library Bill of Rights

Read a Banned Book Today

Bradbury Book Quote