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Banned Books - Save the Books

Events | Banned Books Kits | Save the Books Teen Socials | Find out More | Partners

In 1982, the rise in book challenges led to the creation of Banned Books Week, an annual celebration of the freedom to read. This year, The Library Foundation, in partnership with PEN America Austin and Austin Public Library, is supporting with events and Banned Book Club Kits.

Save the Books: Read Banned Books, Grow Your Mind These kits, available in all APL libraries, contain books frequently targeted for censorship and are designed for ongoing discussions about banned books all year long. Most kits have 8 copies of the same book. The project was inspired by community feedback and made possible by an $8,000 grant from The Library Foundation.

Let's celebrate the freedom to read!

Banned Books Week runs from September 22-28, 2024.
October the 19th is a National Day of Action for the Right to Read.

“Libraries are centers for intellectual freedom. They contain information about and stories from people of all identities and perspectives. Efforts to ban books and limit what libraries can be are threats to intellectual freedom. The freedom to read is a right that must be protected. Austin Public Library is proud to stand against book banning and in support of the freedom to read.”
— Director Roosevelt Weeks

Save the Books Teen Socials

Save the Books Teen Socials link

Save the Books Socials are virtual monthly meetups for teens age 13-18 across Texas, facilitated by the Austin Public Library and a Teen Leadership Circle, along with the support of The Library Foundation, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, BookPeople, the Children’s Defense Fund of Texas, and other organizations who care about protecting the right to read.

Teen participants talk with experts (both teens and adults) and work collaboratively with other teens on Save the Books Projects including social media, a podcast, website, op-ed contest, and the Zines Against Book Bans project.

If you are between the ages of 13-18 and would like to receive information about upcoming meetups to network with other teen advocates, and find out about future teen leadership opportunities, sign up here.

If you have questions, please reach out to Teen Librarian Kathleen at library.austintexas.gov/ask.

Find Out More

Find Out More link

American Library Association - Censorship by the Numbers (PDF)
American Library Association Office of Intellectual Freedom Dedicated to the defense of the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom
Pen America A nonprofit for writers that champions free speech pen.org/issue/book-bans
Texans for the Right to Read A coalition organized by the Texas Library Association texansfortherighttoread.com
Children’s Defense Fund A nonprofit focused on child-rights advocacy cdftexas.org/policy/policy-priorities/education/free-to-learn/
Freedom to Read Foundation The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) protects and defends the First Amendment and supports the right of libraries to collect - and individuals to access - information. ftrf.org
Unite Against Book Bans An initiative of the American Library Association uniteagainstbookbans.org
American Library Association Office of Intellectual Freedom Dedicated to the defense of the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom
Pen America A nonprofit for writers that champions free speech pen.org/issue/book-bans
Texans for the Right to Read A coalition organized by the Texas Library Association texansfortherighttoread.com
Children’s Defense Fund A nonprofit focused on child-rights advocacy cdftexas.org/policy/policy-priorities/education/free-to-learn/
Freedom to Read Foundation The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) protects and defends the First Amendment and supports the right of libraries to collect - and individuals to access - information. ftrf.org
Unite Against Book Bans An initiative of the American Library Association uniteagainstbookbans.org