October 5-11 is National Banned Books Week. The American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement is a foundational document that asserts the freedom to read. The freedom to read is vital to a democratic society, affirming the public's right to access a diversity of viewpoints and challenge censorship. It argues that publishers and librarians have a responsibility to make a wide range of materials available and that restrictions on content based on the author's or publisher's views, or the personal history of the author, are contrary to the public’s interest. Librarians and publishers do not need to endorse every idea or presentation they provide; their role is to offer materials, not to approve or disapprove of every thought within them.
