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East Greenwich High School Library: Banned Books Week

Library services and resources provided to the East Greenwich High School community

Banned Books Week - October 1- October 7, 2023

Banned Books Week (October 1 - October 7, 2023) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. This week spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. It brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship.


In conjunction with the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week, East Greenwich High School Library declares this week
Freedom to Read Week! This week, let’s talk about how we can all benefit from the American shared freedom to choose and read books for our own interests.

Current Issues

Book Challenges Over Time

Top 10 Most Challenged Books Lists

The American Library Association condemns censorship and works to ensure free access to information. Every year, the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The lists are based on information from media stories and voluntary reports sent to OIF from communities across the U.S.

The Top 10 lists are only a snapshot of book challenges. Surveys indicate that 82-97% of book challenges – documented requests to remove materials from schools or libraries – remain unreported and receive no media.

Top Challenged Books

Top Challenged Books of 2021

Top Challenged Books of 2020

Top Challenged Books of 2019

Top Challenged Books of 2018

Top Challenged Books of 2017

Top Challenged Books of 2016

Top Challenged Books of 2015

Scout Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee.

Banning Books - The Pico Decision

Did the Board of Education's decision to ban certain books from its junior high and high school libraries, based on their content, violate the First Amendment's freedom of speech protections?

Censorship by the Numbers 2022

Censorship by the Numbers 2021

Censorship by the Numbers 2020

Censorship by the Numbers 2019

Censorship by the Numbers 2019

Forbidden Books Around the World

Forbidden Books From Around the World 2019