Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. By focusing on efforts to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. Typically (but not always) held during the last week of September, the annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community — librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas.
September 1 - October 11, 2024
Add the banned and challenged books you read to the interactive display on the first floor of the Library and Learning Center.
September 1 - October 11, 2025
Metro State University and the Dayton’s Bluff branch of the Saint Paul Public Library are bringing awareness to the dangers of censorship with a Banned Books Reading Challenge. Join the challenge and celebrate the free and open access to information valued by our libraries.
