"Banned or challenged books" refers to written works that have faced restrictions or censorship. Throughout history, books have been banned, challenged, and even burned for controversial, political, or social content. They have been suppressed from library shelves, erased from school curricula, or restricted in sales based on age. Libraries, including Auraria Library, resist censorship and work to defend each person's right to read under the First Amendment. 

This year's Banned Books Week is celebrated from September 22-28, and the theme is "Freed Between the Lines." Below are some of the books from our collection that have been banned or challenged in other libraries, schools, etc. and additional resources about the history and current landscape of book censorship.