Challenged and Banned Books Recognized by UTA Libraries During Banned Books Week

UTA Libraries supports librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers by recognizing the freedom to express ideas through its participation in Banned Books Week. Banned Book Week runs from Sept. 18- 24. 

For the past 40 years, Banned Books Week has featured books targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. The goal of the week is to draw national attention to the harm of censorship. The theme for this year is "Books unite us. Censorship divides us." 

Morgan Brickey-Jones, K-12 librarian with the UTA Libraries Experiential Learning and Outreach Department, stated that Banned Books Week is important because it shows how censorship is a global issue many people face daily. 

"The deterrence from learning about any topic is troubling, and it is still a problem. It occurs widely, and it is not just in the United States. It is all over," Brickey-Jones said. "We seek to be supportive of that freedom to read whatever somebody is interested in reading." 

The American Library Association Office of Intellectual Freedom states it tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021. Most of the targeted books were about people who were black or LGBTQIA+. 

Amy Castillo, UTA Libraries Access and Discovery Department Head, shared Brickey-Jones' thoughts about the importance of this week. She shared that people must have access to knowledge and other viewpoints without the cloud of censorship hovering over them. 

UTA Libraries will have a display for Banned Books Week on the fourth floor of the Central Library. The display will be on the wall near the stairs, the Reading Resources Collection, and the marketing and communications department. While Banned Books Week runs from Sept. 18-24, the display will be up through the end of September. 

The display will feature an informational poster about Banned Books Week, informational flyers, and books from the banned books list will be featured. The books that are a part of this display are from the ALA's Banned or Challenged Book lists. 

There are several events that UTA Libraries will be hosting that students can take part in during the week. These events include,  

• From 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 19, library patrons can take part in an activity where they can write the title of their favorite banned book on a sticker, which will be attached to a poster.  

• On Tuesday, Sept. 20, to Thursday, Sept. 21, at the Banned Books Week display, library patrons can take part in a blackout poetry activity.  

• On Friday, Sept. 22, library patrons can take part in a scavenger hunt. Several books from the banned book list will be hidden around campus. If library patrons find the books after deciphering clues, they can keep them. Clues will be available at the fourth-floor display and through the UTA Libraries' social media channels.