I t’s Independent Bookstore Day!  At the latest count, there are 2,185 independent bookselling companies running 2,599 stores in the U.S. And, happily, that’s nearly 100 more bookstores than the previous year.[1] As Amanda Gorman – the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history – reminds us, “Independent bookstores are vital hubs of creativity and community.” [2] Not to mention the fact that independent booksellers continue to be a significant force in the battle against book banning. So, join in the nation-wide celebration at your local indie bookstore… but, not just today. Make a visit ..read more

E fforts to ban books during the 2022-2023 school year are up 33 percent from the 2021-2022 academic year. And the number of titles targeted for censorship in public libraries has skyrocketed, increasing by 92% in 2023. And, the books being banned are consistently those of marginalized voices. Books with diverse characters, primarily characters of color and LGBTQA+ characters were overwhelmingly targeted.[1] And continue to be. Throughout this collection of conversations with authors, we talk about the power of books, and the question of why it’s important for stories containing characters ..read more

This year’s theme for National Library Week is “Ready, Set, Library!” Libraries enrich our lives, and connect our communities in ways we may not realize. From book groups to providing a safe after-school hangout space, to lending sports equipment, and so much more. They play a role in economic development, as well, by providing resources and support for job seekers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. And, libraries support us at whatever point we happen to be on our journey through life. Whether you’re preparing for a new career, raising a family, or settling into retirement, libraries pr ..read more

L ast year Unite Against Book Bans issued a call to action for readers, library lovers, and advocates everywhere to stand up to censorship as part of a national day of action. It was called Right to Read Day, and thousands answered the call. Let’s do it again!Because the book banners are definitely still at it. In 2023, a record-breaking 4,240 unique book titles were targeted for censorship. That’s a whopping 65% increase over the 2,571 unique titles targeted in 2022. And, a staggering 128% increase over 2021 numbers. This surge was driven by groups and individuals demanding the censorship ..read more

S ometimes that well-worn adage doesn’t really mean what our literal-minded, text-focused, Google-driven world thinks it means. One reason this happens is that, quite simply, language evolves. To further complicate matters, as with books, all too often the context of these popular wisdoms has been forgotten. Though these aphorisms may still contain some good advice, their original message is typically richer and more profound than our contemporary interpretation. This Book is Banned proffers a few proverbs, sayings, and other pearls of wisdom that have been “unplugged,” as it ..read more

D escribing The Color Purple as a womanist work is like saying the Iliad is a heroic poem. It isn’t merely an example – it’s the defining text of that genre.[1] Womanism emerged from the work of African-American author Alice Walker. And the term isn’t just a new label for Black feminism. While womanism does have an important relationship to feminism, it’s broader in scope than the earlier women’s movement. Okay. But that still doesn’t tell us what womanism actually is. Strictly speaking, Walker doesn’t offer a definition of womanism itself. In true writerly (and, quite frankly, womanist) f ..read more

E fforts to ban books during the 2022-2023 school year are up 33 percent from the 2021-2022 academic year. And, the books being banned are consistently those of marginalized voices. Books with diverse characters, primarily characters of color and LGBTQA+ characters were overwhelmingly targeted.[1] And continue to be. Throughout this collection of conversations with authors, we talk about the power of books, and the question of why it’s important for stories containing characters that have diverse backgrounds and life experience to be told. In considering this vital question, we also touch o ..read more

T oday is National Speech and Debate Education Day. It’s also the first day of Women’s History Month – when, as this year’s Presidential Proclamation states, we celebrate “the vision and achievements of women.”[1] So, we decided to consolidate these two important ideas, and observe the day with groundbreaking speeches delivered by history-making women. We’re sharing the words Sojourner Truth delivered at the Woman’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio on May 29, 1851. As well as the address Eleanor Roosevelt presented at the District of Columbia Library Association Dinner on April 1,1936. Sojo ..read more

E fforts to ban books during the 2022-2023 school year are up 33 percent from the 2021-2022 academic year. And, the books being banned are consistently those of marginalized voices. Books with diverse characters, primarily characters of color and LGBTQ+ characters were overwhelmingly targeted.[1] And continue to be. Throughout this collection of conversations with authors, we talk about the power of books, and the question of why it’s important for stories containing characters that have diverse backgrounds and life experience to be told. In considering this vital question, we also touch on ..read more

Unite Against Book Bans just added a new tool in the fight against book banning! C ollaborating with the publishing community, Unite Against Book Bans has developed a free collection of book résumés, if you will. This new tool is designed to support librarians, educators, students, parents, and other freedom-to-read advocates in their efforts to keep frequently challenged books on shelves. Partnering with dozens of publishers, and including information provided by librarians and School Library Journal, Unite Against Book Bans book résumés are simple-to-print documents designed to help s ..read more