Kudos to my local public library for sending out a great explainer on book challenges and bans in honor of #BannedBooksWeek
![But challenges and bans still threaten your freedom to read.
The American Library Association established Banned Books Week in 1982 in response to a growing number of challenges to books in libraries and schools. The week was created to draw attention to censorship and celebrate the freedom to read. More than 40 years later, that conversation continues: the ALA documented 4,235 unique titles challenged in 2025, the second-highest number it has ever recorded.
[LINK]Explore the 2025 Top 11 Most Challenged Books.[END LINK]
So why does this matter for a public library like SMFPL?
Because your reading choices are yours to make. Your reading choices belong to you. You can decide a book isn’t right for you or your family while respecting someone else’s choice to read it.
Our community includes people with different interests, experiences, and perspectives. That means our shelves need to offer choices for all of them.
The freedom to choose what you read should belong to the reader – not to one person choosing for everyone.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7x2sgvkgumb7erfukduoaal2/bafkreic4qij5pbzut5zifge5my2iijpnginsyyr2dcn2gn4ewbxijt36ii)
Clara Totten
@tottencs.bsky.social
340 followers 359 following 97 posts
Director at Kent State University Press. Library enthusiast. Cats and plants, too. (she/her)
