Censorship is so 1984 | October 5–11

The Lake Bluff Public Library proudly recognizes Banned Books Week as a time to honor and celebrate our freedom to read. With book challenges and censorship efforts on the rise nationwide, this year’s Banned Books Week is more important than ever—and so is your support. Read on to learn more about Banned Books Week and how you can get involved in promoting access to reading and learning for all. #FreePeopleReadFreely

A message from Natalie Starosta, Library Director - 2025

A message from Renee Grassi, former Library Director - 2023

Featured Program

Protecting the Freedom to Read
10/2 from 6pm – 7:30pm
Registration Required - Hyrid
Learn about the past, present, and future of book bans and censorship in American public libraries and schools. Discover where and how you can make an impact when it comes to turning the tide on literary censorship. Watch from home or join us for a group viewing at the Library. There will be an open discussion from 7pm-7:30pm for all attendees to ask additional questions of the presenter and Lake Bluff librarians. 

Why is Banned Books Week important?

For more than 40 years, Banned Books Week has brought communities together in shared support of the freedom to seek and express ideas. This initiative also spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. Book banning infringes on readers' rights and limits access to information and ideas, especially for those who cannot afford to purchase books. Now, libraries in every state are facing an unprecedented number of attempts to ban books. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week helps draw attention to the harms of censorship and the power of intellectual freedom. 

What does it mean to challenge and ban a book?

A book challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials based upon the objections of an individual person or group. A challenge to a book may be resolved in favor of retaining the book in the collection, or it can result in that book being restricted from access in some way.

A book ban is the removal of books from library collections.

Want to learn more about why books are challenged or banned? Take a look at the American Library Association's list of the top ten most challenged books of 2024 or read their Banned Book FAQ.

Are books still banned? How often do book challenges and book banning happen? 

Yes; books are still banned. Every year, the American Library Association (ALA) tracks hundreds of challenges in schools and in libraries across the country, and estimates that the number of unreported challenges are even higher. ALA reported the following facts about censorship efforts in 2024:

• In 2024, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom documented 821 formal attempts to censor library books and materials—significantly down from the record 1,247 in 2023. However, challengers targeted 2,452 unique titles, more than nine times the annual average of 273 titles between 2001 and 2020, making it the third-highest total since ALA began tracking in 1990.
• In 2024, challenges at public libraries showed no significant year-over-year increase like the previous 92% spike in 2023, but are still notably elevated. Public libraries accounted for 55% of all formal censorship attempts across public, school, and academic libraries.
• Organized campaigns remained the primary force behind most challenges: nearly 72% of censorship attempts were initiated by pressure groups, board members, and elected officials, while only 16% came from parents and 4% from library users.
• Titles representing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals made up at least 36% and 29%, respectively, of those targeted in censorship attempts in 2023–2024.

Does Lake Bluff Public Library ban books?

No. According to the Library's Collection Development Policy, "the primary goal of the Library's collection is to meet the diverse informational and recreational needs of the Lake Bluff community. The Library is opposed to the removal or censorship of materials that meet the selection criteria for the collection as well as coercion to add or purchase items that do not meet selection criteria." It also states that "the Library affirms and upholds the principles established in the Freedom to Read and Freedom to View statements and the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights."

In 2020, the Lake Bluff Public Library Board of Trustees approved the organization's first Values Statement, expressively naming democracy, intellectual freedom, and diversity among the Library's core values. The statement goes on, saying "The Lake Bluff Public Library rejects views of exclusivity as antithetical to its mission and values, including censorship, racism, and prejudice. We strive to make the Library a safe and welcoming place for all patrons; we hope that this affirmation of our values further supports that effort."

The Lake Bluff Public Library is proud to support the freedom to read for all and actively works to oppose attempts at censorship and book banning.

What is Lake Bluff Public Library doing to support Banned Books Week? How can I get involved?

• Attend Protecting the Freedom to Read program on 10/2 from 6pm – 7:30pm
  Learn about the past, present, and future of book bans and censorship in American public libraries and schools. Discover where and how you can make an impact when it comes to turning the tide on literary censorship. Watch from home or join us for a group viewing at the Library. There will be an open discussion from 7pm-7:30pm for all attendees to ask additional questions of the presenter and Lake Bluff librarians. Registration Required.
• Participate in our Banned Books Week Raffle. Enter our Banned Books Week Raffle any time between September 29 through October 11 for a chance to win a $25 gift card to Lake Forest Book Store.
• Snap a photo at the Library. Strike a pose with your favorite banned book or take a photo of one of the Library displays to share your support. Tag the Library in your social media post with the hashtag #FreePeopleReadFreely.
• Visit the Library to pick up your free copy of American Library Association's 2024 Field Report on Banned and Challenged Books and a Top 13 Most Challenged Books of 2024 bookmark.
• Explore a banned book from one of our recommended reading lists and take a look at ALA’s State of America’s Libraries – Snapshot of 2024 for more context.

How can I support anti-censorship efforts beyond Banned Books Week?

• Learn how to advocate in your community to defend the right to read through United Against Book Bans, a national initiative aimed at defending intellectual freedom and fighting against censorship.
• Report attempts at censorship in your community using the American Library Association's confidential online form. Reporting censorship is vital to promoting and protecting intellectual freedom in libraries.
• Promote the freedom to read year round. Discuss the issues with friends and neighbors, suggest a banned book for your local book club, and help raise awareness about censorship and book banning.

The Story Behind the Library's Fall 2023 Newsletter Cover

In an effort to bring attention to censorship and encourage conversation about the importance of Banned Books Week, Library staff made an artistic decision to redact parts of the cover image of the Fall 2023 issue of the Library newsletter. Here is a before-and-after look of the newsletter cover with and without redactions. Each quote was purposely selected to feature a notable author discussing the importance of access to information.