Libraries and schools are reporting a significant rise in attempts to ban or restrict books in the U.S. over the past three years. Banned Books Week, Oct. 1-7, draws attention to national and local efforts to remove or limit access to books in libraries, schools and bookstores. The event, launched in 1982, celebrates the freedom to read and express ideas and emphasizes the importance of fighting censorship. “In a time of intense political polarization, library staff in every state are facing an unprecedented number of attempts to ban books,” the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom says. The ALA documented 1,269 attempts to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since the ALA began compiling censorship data more than 20 years ago. Check the link in the bio for more info.