By: Jeff Devine
This week is Banned Books Week. It is a time when libraries and advocates for free speech and the freedom to read emphasize the importance of recognizing the ongoing struggle to ensure every person has access to the books they want to read without fear of censorship from government agencies or other parties.
This week, the Ozark Dale County Library invites everyone to check out their banned books display and learn about the history of this annual awareness campaign.
With the growing tide of book challenges and removals across the U.S., the American Library Association (ALA) is mounting a renewed defense of free expression with its 2025 Banned Books Week, running October 5–11. This year’s theme, “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights,” evokes George Orwell’s cautionary narrative to underscore that suppression of ideas is neither novel nor benign.
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A Rising Wave of Book Challenges
According to ALA data, 72% of censorship demands made in 2024 originated from organized advocacy campaigns—including school boards, elected officials, and activist groups. Many of the 120 most frequently challenged titles are flagged on partisan book-rating platforms, which empower individuals to pressure librarians and school administrators to remove or restrict books.
While “challenges” refer to attempts to remove or limit access to books, “bans” are successful removal actions. In many reported cases, community pushback has preserved access to the targeted works—a testament to the ongoing activism of librarians, teachers, students, and concerned citizens.
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Why 1984? Why Now?
The choice of theme is intentional: as censorship pressures mount, the ALA draws a parallel to Orwell’s dystopian depiction of authoritarian control over information. “The 2025 theme … serves as a reminder that censorship efforts persist to this day,” says ALA President Cindy Hohl, who calls on communities to band together in defense of reading rights.
By invoking 1984, the ALA aims to center the conversation around the stakes of controlling narratives, especially in educational and public institutions. The message is clear: the freedom to read is a bulwark against ideological silencing.
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Programs, Resources & Participation
To support local engagement during Banned Books Week, ALA offers a slate of downloadable materials—posters, bookmarks, graphic art, and more. Libraries, schools, and nonprofits interested in organizing events can apply for $1,000 Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund grants through the Freedom to Read Foundation. (The application deadline is April 30, 2025.)
Every year, the Banned Books Week Coalition—of which the ALA is a founding member—appoints honorary chairs and youth chairs to help guide public outreach around the event. Past honorees include authors like Jason Reynolds and George M. Johnson, as well as educator and advocate LeVar Burton.
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What This Means Locally
For school districts, public libraries, and community organizations, the challenge is twofold:
1. Defend access: Be prepared to respond to censorship pressure with community-backed, well-informed responses.
2. Promote awareness: Use Banned Books Week as an educational opportunity—book displays, panel discussions, reading events can help citizens understand what’s at stake.
At a time when information boundaries are being tested, the ALA’s 2025 campaign positions reading itself as a form of resistance.
