Read a banned book to celebrate every Californian’s right to free and open access to information and ideas.
Banned Books Week, October 4-10, 2026, is an annual reminder of how censorship divides us, and libraries and reading bring us together. Tulare County Library, libraries, and bookstores nationwide join together to “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.” Protected by the First Amendment of our Constitution, an essential piece of our democracy and libraries, reading is among our greatest freedoms and only the individual or parents or guardians of a child should decide the choice of books to read and media to use.
Efforts to censor books in schools and libraries have been around for a long time. The American Library Association documented 713 attempts by individuals or groups to censor library books and other material in 2025. This included 4,235 attempts to censor unique titles, the second highest number of challenges in a year since challenges were recorded. This exceeded the average of 273 unique titles that were challenged annually between 2001-2020. Books banned and challenged in 2025 included Sold by Patricia McCormick, Gender Queer: A memoir by Maia Kobabe, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Looking for Alaska by John Green, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, and A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess.
“The Tulare County Library staff work hard to provide a wide range of resources to our community, because everyone who uses our services in person and online pursues their own varied interests and subjects,” said County Librarian, Darla Wegener. “This is why the Library celebrates Banned Books Week as the freedom to read and access information reflects our community, society, and the world.”
Tulare County Library offers a wide variety of reading and learning opportunities for all ages. From borrowing books, eBooks, and audiobooks, to attending a book club or children’s story time and so much more – there is something for everyone. Whether working on job skills, English proficiency, a hobby, or trying to instill a love of reading in your child, our collections and services are available for free to everyone. Come into a Library Branch today for your Library Card to get started.