In honor of Banned Books Week (Sept. 18-24), Eugene Public Library invites everyone to celebrate and rededicate ourselves to our right to read, listen to, view, write, create, and otherwise experience or express whatever we choose.
This right is ensured by the U.S. Constitution. For years, many people in this country assumed that censorship was a thing of the past or at least that “it doesn’t happen here.” Each year, our library honored Banned Books Week primarily as a reminder of historical events and an encouragement to remain aware of the potential threat of censorship and the principle of unrestricted reading.
But this year, we face a changed landscape. Everyone is aware of the striking increase in individuals, organizations, candidates, and elected officials requesting, demanding, and sometimes legislating that public libraries, school libraries, and book stores remove or restrict access to particular books, music, films, and other resources.
In addition to addressing the harm that censorship causes to individuals, education, and democracy itself, Banned Books Week celebrates the fact that over time, in the majority of cases, books have remained available precisely because people spoke out for the freedom to read.
Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community –- readers, writers, students, librarians, educators, booksellers, publishers, journalists –- in shared support of the value of free and open access to information, entertainment, and inspiration.
During Banned Books Week, we feature titles that have been targeted for removal or restriction. These booklists click through to our catalog for placing hold requests:
Adults - Banned Books (coming soon)
Teens - Banned Books
Kids - Banned Books
To stay informed about the now constantly-breaking news on this topic and to get involved in protecting this essential right, visit or follow:
ACLU - Banned Books
American Library Association
PEN America
EveryLibrary
OIF - American Library Association Office of Intellectual Freedom
EveryLibrary Banned Book Store