October 5 - 11 is Banned Books Week. Book Bans are on the rise in schools and public libraries. However, book bans are not just a library issue – they threaten the values that underpin scholarly communication in higher education
At its core, scholarly communication depends on equitable access to information. Book bans can restrict knowledge and suppress diverse perspectives, and many frequently banned books are written by or feature members of marginalized communities. For many readers, these works may be the only opportunity to see themselves represented in the media or to encounter new cultural perspectives. Removing such voices diminishes representation in both public discourse and the scholarly record, while also limiting academic growth for those who might otherwise lack exposure to this knowledge.
Book bans also threaten academic freedom. We can think about this in a number of different ways - Students from schools that censor books may enter college unfamiliar with key works or critical perspectives, leaving them less prepared for rigorous academic discourse. Scholars may hesitate to pursue controversial topics due to fears of institutional backlash or funding loss. This may have a dramatic effect, in that if fewer controversial works are published, scholarship may drift toward only safe, mainstream narrative – creating gaps in the historical and cultural record.
What can we do to prevent a climate of caution that erodes access to knowledge? We can support intellectual freedom organizations such as the American Library Association and PEN America. We can advocate for open access, open pedagogy, and open education materials. Take a moment during Banned Books Week to reflect on how you can help resist censorship and promote access to knowledge – after all, it’s the core of what scholarly communication does.
If you want to learn more about banned books, check out ALA’s 2025 Banned Books Week page, which has information on the most challenged books in recent years and censorship data.
0 Comments.