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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.

State of America's Libraries: A Snapshot of 2024. American Library Association

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...

Red background, white words: BOOK BANS ARE REAL. ALA logo

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."

Intellectual Freedom Round Table. John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award. Recognizing notable contributions to intellectual freedom and demonstrations of personal courage in defense of free expression. Nominations due March 1 2025. bit.ly/ImmrothAward

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...

Office for Intellectual Freedom logo and Writers Guild Initiative Logo

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...

ALA reveals preliminery data on 2024 book challenges. New data shows a slowdown in callenge reports.

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.

Promotional graphic with the text: "FREE PEOPLE READ FREELY. 09|17 2024 AT THE Library of Congress. A National Summit on Democracy, Intellectual Freedom, and Book Censorship in the 21st Century."

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...

A headshot of Ava DuVernay

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 is Back for #ALAAC24! Saturday and Sunday, 9:00-5:00pm. Lobby E (outside Exhibits)

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...

Hanif Abdurraqib

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.

Book cover: Why Books Matter: Honoring Joyce Meskis: Essays on the Past, Present, and Future of Books, Bookselling, and Publishing

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...