This week, September 17 through 24, is Banned Book Week, an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. This event calls to light the hundreds of challenges that are made in an effort to remove books from public schools and libraries. A proud member of the Unite Against Book Bans movement, a campaign organized by the American Library Association (ALA), ILA has long stood against censorship and supported children's rights to read.

Here are some resources to help you stand up against censorship and promote a love of reading in students.

Children’s Rights to Read

ILA's Children’s Rights to Read initiative, founded on 10 fundamental rights every child deserves, was developed to ensure that every child, everywhere, has access to the education, opportunities, and resources needed to read. These resources expand on and support the Rights (downloadable in 16 languages), helping you enact them in in your classroom, school, or community: 

• Advocating for Children’s Rights to Read
• The Case for Children’s Rights to Read
• Resolution to Adopt Children’s Rights to Read

Webinars

Both of these ILA Digital Events are available on our YouTube channel, along with several other videos in our Free Events playlist.

• Censorship in School Libraries Across the Globe—This free webinar features Julia E. Torres, Lucy Santos Green, Jennisen Lucas, and several other champions of children’s rights to read who are leading the charge against censorship.
• Tackling Tough Topics Through Middle Grade Literature—Thu Anh Nguyen leads a discussion with authors whose books have often been the target of challenges on why it’s critical to protect a child’s access to these types of texts.

Toolkits

Several organizations have created informational guides and resource packets with promotional material and suggestions on how to guide discussion and lead action around fighting book bans.

• United Against Book Bans Toolkit
• I Read Dangerous kit from the American Booksellers Association
• Community Action Toolkit from Get Ready, Stay Ready

Special Interest Groups

Censorship silences the voices of marginalized populations. Our Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) uplifts diverse voices with their annual Notable Books for a Global Society book list.

Articles

• “'Let Me Just Close My Eyes': Challenged and Banned Books, Claimed Identities, and Comics," by Ashley K. Dallacqua
• "Supporting the Right to Read: Principles for Selecting Children’s Books," Danielle E. Hartsfield and Sue C. Kimmel
• "Finding the Joy in Choice," by Dr. Joy
• "Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors: The Enduring Impact of Rudine Sims Bishop's Work," by Alina O'Donnell
• "Be Their Advocate," by Emily Chiariello

ILA Briefs

• The Essential Leadership of School Librarians
• Creating Passionate Readers Through Independent Reading
• The Power and Promise of Read-Alouds and Independent Reading

Blog posts

• “Banned Books Week 2017: Celebrating the Power of Words” by Alina O’Donnell
• “Book Challenge Procedures: Recipes are Intended to be Followed” by Kristen Pekoll
• “They Tried to Ban My Book” by Mark Weakland
• “When We Talk About Banned Books” by Andria Amaral

How are you advocating for a child’s rights to read during Banned Books Week? Let us know by emailing social@reading.org or tagging us on social media. Follow us on Twitter for more resources, articles, and events, and be sure to use the hashtag #BannedBooksWeek and our handle, @ILAToday, when sharing your events.

 

Wes Ford is proud to stand with ILA against censorship and banning books.