Banned Books Week 2023

October 1-7, 2023 is Banned Books Week, an annual event highlighting the value of free and open access to information. The event is supported by a coalition of organizations dedicated to free expression, including American Library Association, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Amnesty International USA, Association of University Presses, Authors Guild, Banned Books Week Sweden, Children’s Book Council, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), Freedom to Read Foundation, GLAAD, Index on Censorship, Little Free Library, National Book Foundation, National Coalition Against Censorship, National Council of Teachers of English, PEN America, People For the American Way Foundation, PFLAG, and Project Censored. It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Banned Books Week also receives generous support from HarperCollins Publishers and Penguin Random House.

The freedom to read is under assault in the United States—particularly in public schools—curtailing students’ freedom to explore words, ideas, and books. In the 2022–23 school year, from July 1, 2022, to June 31, 2023, PEN America recorded 3,362 instances of book bans in US public school classrooms and libraries. These bans removed student access to 1,557 unique book titles and the works of over 1,480 authors, illustrators, and translators. Authors whose books are targeted are most frequently female, people of color, and/or LGBTQ+ individuals. Amid a growing climate of censorship, school book bans continue to spread through coordinated campaigns by a vocal minority of groups and individual actors and, increasingly, as a result of pressure from state legislation.

Join PEN America in the Fight Against Book Bans

In mid-September, PEN America released a new report documenting the 33% increase in book bans in 2022-2023 compared to 2021-2022, of which 40% occurred in Florida. Books about race and racism, LGBTQ+ identities, and violence have remained a top target. 

The report kicks off more than a month of activity for PEN America to raise awareness of, and take action against, the cynical and extremist efforts to restrict American students’ freedom to read. Please keep reading to learn how you can join PEN America by attending an event, joining an online gathering, urging lawmakers to oppose book bans, or buying swag that supports PEN America.

Take Action: TELL CONGRESS TO OPPOSE BOOK BANS

Send an email to your US Representative urging them to support House Resolution 733, introduced by Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Senator Brian Schatz (HI). This resolution puts members on the record for “Expressing concern about the spreading problem of book banning and the proliferation of threats to freedom of expression in the United States.”

For more information, visit bannedbooksweek.org.