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Banned Books Week 2025

October 5 - October 11, 2025

Banned Books Week in blue Oct. 5-11, 2025 in red with red and blue stars below

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.

With the escalation in attempts to ban books in libraries, schools, and bookstores around the country, George Orwell’s cautionary tale "1984" serves a prescient warning about the dangers of censorship. This year’s theme reminds us that the right to read belongs to all of us, that censorship has no place in contemporary society, and that we must defend our rights.


Quick links:

 

Featured Events

Pride Storytime with Lil Miss Hot Mess

Pride Storytime featuring Lil Miss Hot Mess
(Banned Books Week Edition)

Tuesday, Oct. 7 | 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Denny Sanford Children's Library

Pride Storytime with Lil Miss Hot Mess and a banned book!

 

 Banned Books Week Trivia Night

Banned Books Week Trivia Night at Ballast Point Brewing Little Italy

Thursday, Oct. 9 | 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. | Ballast Point Brewing Little Italy

Test your banned books knowledge with librarians from the San Diego Public Library. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black obelisk covered with censored words. A black and red loudspeaker sits on top. Artwork by Cindy Zimmerman. Title-Monument.

In The Land of... Feminist Image Group Exhibition

Jun. 22 - Oct. 12 | Open Library hours | Central Library- 1st floor

Through powerful visual narratives, Feminist Image Group (FIG) artists confront the forces of cultural repression and celebrate the freedom to think, create, and speak without fear. This exhibition includes artists' interpretations of the realities of censorship. The compelling and diverse visual narrative reclaims the power of free expression through art.

Featuring works by Jennifer Spencer, Cindy Zimmerman, Susan Osborn, Kathy Nida, Helen Redman, Nanette Newbry, Judith Christensen, Doris Bittar, Judith Parenio, Ruth Wallen, Bridget Rountree, Marty Ornish, Kirsten Aaboe, Momilani Ramstrum and Stacie Birky Greene. 

This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome. Together, let’s stand for creative freedom, the right to read, and the power of art to challenge and inspire.

 

 

More Banned Books Week Events


What are Banned Books?

Banning books is fundamentally a form of censorship used to limit the availability/access of a book from a specific group of people or the public. Censorship — the suppression of ideas and information — can occur at any stage or level of publication, distribution, or institutional control. (ALA.org)

This is not an accidental action. Banning a book is a process where first the book must be challenged. Challenging a book is when a person/group/organization attempts to limit or remove the access of a book.  According to the ALA (American Library Association), most books are challenged based on a desire to protect children from sexually explicit, offensive language and/or because they are deemed unsuited to any age group. If a governing power agrees with the challenge, they can choose to limit the availability of the book. This could include removing it from school curriculums and/or library shelves.

Thankfully most challenges are unsuccessful, and most materials are retained in the school curriculum or library collection because of committed parents, librarians, community members, teachers and students.


Censorship by the Numbers 

The American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom gathers information regarding challenges and attempts to censor books and materials in public, school and academic libraries across the United States.

In 2024, ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 821 attempts to censor library materials and services. In those cases, 2,452 unique titles were challenged. Last year, ALA tracked 1,247 attempts with 4,240 unique titles challenged. Though the number of reports decreased in 2024, the number of documented attempts to censor books continues to far exceed the numbers prior to 2020.

ALA cites the following factors contributing to the decrease in documented censorship from 2023: underreporting, censorship by exclusion, and legislative restrictions.

View the Censorship by the Numbers slides for more details.  

  • Censorship by the Numbers: Who challenges books information sheet.
  • Censorship by the Numbers: Where do challenges take place information sheet.
  • Censorship by the Numbers: Books and beyond information sheet.
  • Censorship by the Numbers: Number of unique titles challenged by year information sheet.
  • Censorship by the Numbers: Percentage of total titles targeted by pressure groups and decision makers, 2001-2024 information sheet.

Banned Book Testimonials

San Diego Public Library staff share their favorite banned reads and why.

  • 1984 by George Orwell staff testimonial

    "1984" by George Orwell

  • Melissa by Alex Gino staff testimonial

    "Melissa" by Alex Gino

  • Holy bible staff testimonial

    "Holy Bible"

  • Howl by Allen Ginsberg staff testimonial

    "Howl" by Allen Ginsberg

  • Sasaki and Miyano by Shou Harusono staff testimonial

    "Sasaki and Miyano" by Shou Harusono

  • The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis staff testimonial

    "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis

  • The Giver by Lois Lowry staff testimonial

    "The Giver" by Lois Lowry

  • Beloved by Toni Morrison staff testimonial

    "Beloved" by Toni Morrison

  • The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo staff testimonial

    "The Poet X" by Elizabeth Acevedo

  • The Absolute True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie staff testimonial

    "The Absolute True Story of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie

  • Maus by Art Spiegelman staff testimonial

    "Maus" by Art Spiegelman

  • Gossip Girl by staff testimonial

    "Gossip Girl" by Cecily von Ziegesar


Books Unbanned

Books Unbanned text with black marker lines

 
Can you believe that some of America's youth are denied the right to read? Yeah, we couldn’t either! So, guess what we are going to do about it? We believe in your right to read what you want, discover yourself and form your own opinions. Now, teens and young adults ages 12 to 26 living anywhere in the U.S. can access San Diego Public Library’s online collection of banned or restricted eBooks and eAudiobooks for FREE.
 
 

Listener's Advisory: The San Diego Public Library Podcast

Listeners’ Advisory is the San Diego Public Library podcast

Bonus episode on Banned Books Week 2023

Listen to the episode here.


Season 1, Episode 10: Banned Books Week and Our Favorite Banned Books

Listen to the episode here.


 Booklists


Resources

Discover Banned Books Week facts, related events and much more from the American Library Association: