What We Risk When Books are Banned

Blog By Erik B., Teen Services Coordinator  

a display of books in a library setting. Banned Books Week logo.

Banned Books Week: October 5–11, 2025

Book banning isn’t just about taking a title off the shelf, it’s about erasing history, silencing voices, and limiting futures. The 43rd annual Banned Books Week in America will be held from October 5-11, 2025. Alameda County Library invites you to visit our Libraries all week long to check out special programming, curated book displays, and pick up a banned book or bookmark! Join us to learn more about the effort to ban books across the country, and take action to exercise intellectual freedom. 

Book Banning Denies Our History

One of the biggest targets of book bans are topics about historical figures and events. The bans often target books that discuss our history of racism, activism, and social injustice. PEN America, a nationwide nonprofit organization that defends writers, artists, and journalists and protects free expression worldwide, found that 15% of books banned in US public schools, opens a new window during the 2023-2024 school year were related to activism and overcoming injustice. Such bans prevent us from learning about, discussing, or understanding our history, where we are, where we are from, and how far we’ve come. 

a display of banned books in a library setting

Book Banning Denies Our Community

Book bans disproportionately target stories about historically oppressed members of our community. Of the books banned from schools in 2023-2024, 44% of them featured characters of color and 39% featured LGBTQIA+ characters. Picture books depicting a child with two fathers, stories simply depicting trans people, and young adult novels about dealing with trauma in teens’ lives were all banned. Beyond official bans, many books are being quietly excluded or removed from schools and libraries out of fear they might be challenged.  

Book Banning Denies Our Future

When books are banned, the power to decide what is “appropriate” is taken out of the hands of families, readers, and communities. Banning doesn’t just limit access for children; it silences writers doing research, restricts parents’ ability to choose for their children, and denies the opportunity to understand the world around us. 

How You Can Take Action

  • Visit the library. Alameda County Library will be offering Banned Books Week programs and events. Join us, check out our banned book displays, or pick up a book from one of our banned booklists. Right to Read bookmarks will also be available at all libraries while supplies last. 
  • Support authors. Show your support by reading banned books, purchasing them, or checking them out from your local library. Attend author talks, book events, or write to authors directly to let them know you support them.  
  • Be active in your community. Being active in your local community through civic action is fundamental to democracy. Most attempts at book banning and censorship are local. Here are some ways to take civic action in your local community and make your voice heard.  Attend local meetings:  
    • City council meetings
    • School board sessions
    • PTA meetings

On a national level, write to your Congressional Representative to affirm the importance of protecting your right to read. Being active in your community can be a way to express your feelings and hold officials accountable for their decisions. 

Banned Books Week at AC Library

A display of banned books with caution tape in front of it.

Booklists

Banned Books Week 2025: Censored books by Local Authors

Here are some books by SF Bay Area authors an illustrators that have been banned, challenged, and/or censored. Read banned books!




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Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024

Every year, the American Library Association compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. Explore your freedom to read by exploring these titles found in AC Library's catalog.




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Banned and Challenged Books You Might Not Know About

While many see book banning as targeting adult titles or well-known classics, many of today’s book bans and challenges (i.e. books that have been officially flagged by community members and facing the process of being removed from a library) are targeting authors and books you may never have heard of, and many are aimed at picture books for young children! Check out titles you may not have heard of (or didn't know were banned) and read one for Banned Books Week and beyond! *Books are organized by age of target audience from low to high




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