Let freedom read!
Banned Books Week is Sept 22-28
As readers, we understand the transformative power of books. They challenge our perspectives, transport us to new worlds, and ignite our imaginations. But this freedom to explore and engage with literature is under attack.
The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom reported that the number of titles targeted for censorship surged 65% last year, reaching the highest levels documented in more than 20 years of tracking. In total, 4,240 books were targeted for removal from schools and libraries, up from 2,571 titles in 2022. Nearly half of the books (47%) that were challenged represented LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC voices and experiences.
Censorship infringes upon our fundamental right to intellectual freedom. It limits our access to diverse perspectives, stifles critical thinking, and hinders our ability to engage with complex ideas. When books are banned, we lose the opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with others through shared stories and experiences.
What Can You Do?
Silent Book Club is proud to partner with Unite Against Book Bans, a national initiative that empowers readers to stand up against politicized efforts to silence authors. We believe that everyone deserves the right to choose what they read—it’s core to our ethos, “bring your own book.”
During Banned Books Week and beyond, there are several ways you can support the fight against censorship:
Read a banned book! Explore the titles that have been challenged or removed from shelves and discover the stories that others have tried to silence.
Speak out against censorship. Share your thoughts with your community, write letters to your local officials, and advocate for the freedom to read. Download free graphics to post on social media.
Support your local library. Libraries are vital institutions that provide access to information and promote intellectual freedom. Show your support by visiting, borrowing books, and attending library events.
Get out the vote. In states with the highest number of book bans—Texas, Florida, Missouri, Utah, South Carolina, and Michigan—school districts removed large lists of challenged books “pending investigation,” effectively removing them from student access for indefinite periods. Voters elect school boards, so raising awareness and encouraging people to vote in local elections is critical.
Freedom of speech is central to democracy, and this election year it's more important than ever to get involved and speak up. The fight against censorship is a collective effort, and during Banned Books Week and every week, we will not be silent.
Books we loved this month
The God of the Woods, by Liz Moore
Sandwich, by Catherine Newman
Table for Two, by Amor Towles
Bookmarks
Book-related links and other good stuff online
Booksellers are taking on the book banners Publishers Weekly
Florida district must restore banned books to school libraries AP
Women dominate the 2024 Booker Prize shortlist BBC
The 2024 National Book Awards Longlist The New Yorker
I paid my child $100 to read a book The New York Times
Anne Lamott reflects on aging NPR
What to read this fall The Guardian
We met the author of Finding Feminism this month - take a read if you love memoirs! Bookshop.org
SBC in the news
BYOB (bring your own book) to a silent book club near you The Oregonian
Book club with a silent twist WHO13 - Hello Iowa
Silent Book Club in Fayetteville Bringing Readers Together WKML
Building a community of readers The Star
Columbia Museum of Art partners with Silent Book Club Binder podcast
