County libraries to observe ‘Freedom to Read’ Week

Williamsport, Pa. — The six libraries of the Lycoming County Library System invite the public to champion the right to read during Freedom to Read Week, which takes place September 22-28.

Books are tools that help people navigate the world around them. Intellectual freedom and access to information uplift people in crisis and during more peaceful times.

Freedom to Read Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. This year's theme, "Freed Between the Lines," spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. It brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

Freedom to Read Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries. The week is the most important opportunity during the year for advocates — publishers, booksellers, librarians, educators, journalists, and readers — to explain why we must defend everyone's right to choose what they want to read and view.

In 2023, the Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 1,247 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services, affecting 4,240 books. This is an increase of 65% over the number of challenges reported in 2022 and the highest number of attempted book bans since the American Library Association began compiling data about censorship more than 20 years ago. The office also noted a focus on demands to remove books that addressed racism and racial justice or those that shared the stories of Black, Indigenous, or people of color.

"When we ban books, we're closing off readers to people, places, and perspectives," said Amy Resh, system administrator of the Lycoming library system. "We support individual parents' choices concerning their child's reading and believe that parents should not have those choices dictated by others. Young people need to have access to a variety of books from which they can learn about different perspectives. Despite organized efforts to ban books, libraries remain ready to do what we always have: make knowledge and ideas available so people are free to choose what to read and access."

A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials based on a person or group's objections. A banning is the removal of those materials.

The Top 10 Challenged Books of 2023 were:

To view a list of all banned books, visit the banned books website .

"This is a dangerous time for readers and the public servants who provide access to reading materials. Readers, particularly students, are losing access to critical information, and librarians and teachers are under attack for doing their jobs," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom.