Freedom to Read Week

More resources, including articles, the full list of challenged books in Canada, and fun activities.

From the CBC Archives, 1985. According to the Book and Periodical Council, "Freedom to Read Week (FTRW) was started 36 years ago by the Freedom of Expression Committee, which itself was founded in response to challenges to Margaret Laurence’s The Diviners in Ontario schools."

Article from 2019: "Which books challenged in Canada sell the most?"

Article from 2018: "29 books you may be surprised to learn were challenged in Canada"

The Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA-FCAB) supports the annual Intellectual Freedom Challenges Survey, which "creates a national snapshot of the nature and outcome of challenges to intellectual freedom in publicly-funded Canadian libraries. By documenting and reporting these incidents, Canadian libraries demonstrate their commitment to public accountability and institutional transparency."

Article from 2020: "15 Frequently Banned & Challenged Books"

"One of Saskatoon Public Library’s core values is intellectual freedom. We support open and
unrestricted access to information, and protect individual rights to privacy and choice
without fear of censorship or discrimination."

Liane Hansen, host of the Weekend Edition from NPR News, speaks with Nobel Prize-winning writer Toni Morrison about the book The Daughters of Allah and censorship.

Toronto Public Library's page about Freedom to Read Week.