Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)
ALA ANNOUNCES BANNED BOOKS WEEK 2025 THEME
The American Library Association and Banned Books Week Coalition are pleased to announce the theme for Banned Books Week 2025: “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights.” Banned Books Week will take place October 5 – 11, 2025.
American Library Association kicks off National Library Week with the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024 and the State of America’s Libraries Report
The American Library Association (ALA) today released the highly anticipated Top 10 Most Challenged Books List.
ALA, Unite Against Book Bans share Right to Read Day theme and actions
American Library Association and Unite Against Book Bans invite the community to participate in Right to Read Day, taking place April 7, the Monday of National Library Week.
ALA, AASL decry U.S. Defense Department censorship of schools and libraries on military installations
DoDEA school libraries provide a wealth of information and resources to their communities. By ordering the removal and suppression of learning materials and activities in its schools and libraries, the DoDEA is engaging in censorship...
ALA to U. S. Department of Education: Book bans are real
The American Library Association responds to the Department of Education's dismissal of complaints about censorship and discrimination: the "effort to terminate protections... advances the demonstrably false claim that book bans are not real."
IFRT Opens Nominations for 2025 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award
The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is accepting nominations for the 2025 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award, which honors notable contributions to intellectual freedom and demonstrations of personal courage in defense of freedom of expression...
ALA, Writers Guild Initiative Announce Creative Writing Workshops for Librarians
The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (ALA-OIF) and the Writers Guild Initiative (WGI) are seeking 25 librarians for a unique series of online writer’s workshops that will pair the librarians with professional film and...
American Library Association reveals preliminary data on 2024 book challenges
Between January 1 and August 31, 2024, ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 414 attempts to censor library materials and services.
American Library Association Hosts Historic Intellectual Freedom Summit at the Library of Congress
ALA convened a third Intellectual Freedom Summit in its nearly 150-year history, bringing together national organizations, publishing allies, educational institutions, foundations, authors and other champions of intellectual freedom.
American Library Association to Host Historic Intellectual Freedom Summit at the Library of Congress
Event to Forge Collaborative Playbook to Address Censorship Challenges and Protect Free Expression WASHINGTON - The American Library Association (ALA) is convening a third Intellectual Freedom Summit in its nearly 150-year history, bringing together...
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay To Lead Banned Books Week As Honorary Chair
White House Honoree Julia Garnett to Serve as Youth Honorary Chair CHICAGO — Award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay has been named honorary chair for Banned Books Week 2024, which takes place September 22 – 28. DuVernay will be joined by youth honorary...
Banned Books from the Big Chair returns for 2024 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition
Sage, the American Library Association, the Banned Books Week Coalition, and Unite Against Book Bans are partnering to bring Banned Books from the Big Chair back to the 2024 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition! To counter the unparalleled rise in...
Acclaimed poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib to headline second annual Rally for the Right to Read
The American Library Association (ALA) and Unite Against Book Bans will host a second annual Rally for the Right to Read: Voters Unite Against Book Bans at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Banned Books Week
Banned Books Week, September 22-28, 2024.
ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom to benefit from new book of essays
A new book of essays, “Why Books Still Matter,” inspired by the late First Amendment champion Joyce Meskis, has been released this month, with proceeds going to the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.
ALA announces state Intellectual Freedom Helpline program grants to support libraries addressing censorship attempts
CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce the launch of its state Intellectual Freedom Helpline program. Over the next two years, ten pilot program sites will operate a confidential reporting system that will help connect...
Unite Against Book Bans expands book résumé collection for National Library Week
To commemorate National Library Week, Unite Against Book Bans has expanded its free collection of book résumés to support librarians, educators, parents, students, and other community advocates in their efforts to keep frequently challenged books on shelves.
American Library Association reports record number of unique book titles challenged in 2023
The number of titles targeted for censorship surged 65 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching the highest levels ever documented by the American Library Association (ALA). The new numbers show efforts to censor 4,240 unique book titles in schools and libraries.
Unite Against Book Bans Announces a Free Book Résumé Resource
Unite Against Book Bans, in collaboration with the publishing community, unveils a free collection of book résumés at bookresumes.uniteagainstbookbans.org to support librarians, educators, parents, students, and other community advocates in their efforts to keep frequently challenged books on shelves.
ALA Announces New Members of the Unite Against Book Bans Cadre for Proactive Advocacy Opposing Book Banning
Today, the American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce the addition of five new members to the Policy Corps’ Unite Against Book Bans cadre: Kate Alderete, Carolyn Foote, Jamie M. Gregory, Tyler Hahn, and Jennie Pu. Formed in March 2023, the cadre has worked in close coordination with the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) and the ALA Public Policy and Advocacy (PPA) Office.