Let Books Be – Protect the Freedom to Read

Did you know that, according to data compiled by the American Library Association (ALA), last year,

§More than 4,000 books were targeted for censorship, the second highest number ever.

§92% of book challenges were initiated by pressure groups, government officials and decisions makers, and less than 3% originated from individual parents.

§39% of challenged books represented experiences of LGBTQIA and people of color.

Think it doesn’t affect Rhode Island? Book censorship attempts documented by the ALA show that in Rhode Island there were 6 documented titles challenged in 2018, 1 in 2019, 6 in 2021, 20 in 2022, 5 in 2023, and 3 in 2024.

To recognize Banned Books Week, Oct. 4-10, 2026, and celebrate the freedom to read and view diverse ideas, the Friends of East Providence Public Library will offer at their Fall Book Sale Oct, 22-25 a cart of books that have been banned or challenged over time. The Friends welcome donations of banned books and will add them to the sale. You may be surprised to find children’s favorites such as Charlotte’s Web, Chronicles of Narnia and Stuart Little, classic titles, including 1984, To Kill a Mockingbird and Huckleberry Finn, as well as contemporary novels, such as Sold, The Hate U Give, The Hunger Games, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. All will be available at the Book Sale and are priced at $1.

Take home a banned book and read it. Then share it with friends and family. Visit the American Library Association website to view a list of the Top 11 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2025 at https://www.ala.org/news/2026/04/american-library-association-releases-2025-most-challenged-books-list-national-library.