Want to read a banned book? Visit a Bucks County Free Library branch this week

In celebration of this year’s Banned Books Week, the Bucks County Free Library is inviting patrons to visit its seven branches this week to learn more about controversial titles and the freedom to read.

Banned Books Week is an annual censorship awareness campaign promoted by the American Library Association that dates back to 1982. Librarians, teachers, authors, and booksellers across the country spend the last week of September—sometimes the first week of October—promoting ” common support for the freedom to seek and express ideas,” according to information on www.bannedbooksweek,org.

This year, Bucks County Library visitors can “browse our Banned Books display, learn about the history of Banned Books and how you can get involved” every day from September 22nd through September 28th.

Screens are accessible at the following locations:

• Bensalem: 3700 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem

• Doylestown: 150 S. Pine Street, Doylestown Borough

• Langhorne: 301 S. Pine Street (Rt. 413 and Flowers Ave.), Langhorne

• Levittown: 7311 New Falls Road, Bristol Township

• Perkasie: 491 Arthur Avenue, Perkasie

• Quakertown: 401 West Mill Street, Quakertown

• Yardley-Makefield: 1080 Edgewood Road, Yardley

• Fallsington Library: 139 Yardley Avenue, Falls Township

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Libraries are open Monday through Saturday, but opening hours vary at each branch. The Doylestown branch is also open on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Specific hours for each branch are listed at www.buckslib.org.

The national theme for 2024 is “Freed Between the Lines”, focusing on the 10 most challenged books in 2023, efforts to restrict access to books and drawing attention to the “damages of censorship”, the Banned Books website adds.

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Attempts to remove the books, often focused on LGBTQ people and issues, have permeated public and school libraries in recent years following a surge in outrage led by conservative parents’ rights groups like Moms For Liberty.

Pennsylvania ranked third for the most book bans in America between July 1, 2021 and December 31, 2023, according to a report from PEN America.

More than 60 titles were challenged in Central Bucks after the previous school board adopted a controversial library policy in July 2022.

A Pennridge parent found evidence that the Upper Bucks County school district “banned” more than 20 titles after its board adopted a similar library policy as Central Bucks later that year.

This article originally appeared on the Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County Free Library hosts banned book display this week