It’s an important week for libraries—and readers, too. In addition to showing love for our nation’s libraries during National Library Week (April 6 - 12, 2025), the American Library Association (ALA) has designated a day of action. This year, Monday April 7 marks the third annual Right to Read Day, where library lovers and advocates everywhere raise their voice for the right to read.

This year's National Library Week theme is "Drawn to the Library," and for #RightToReadDay, readers are “Drawn to Freedom”—the freedom to read, the freedom to access information, the freedom to find community—all of the opportunities our libraries provide.

As book censorship efforts continue nationwide, readers are encouraged to take individual action—not only to defend, protect, and celebrate the right to read freely, but to also support library programs and library workers amidst funding cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The ALA has released the State of America's Libraries Report for 2024, reporting 821 attempts to censor materials and 2,452 unique titles that were challenged—the third-highest number ever documented by ALA.

Additionally, instances of soft censorship, where books are purchased but placed in restricted areas, not used in library displays, or otherwise hidden or kept off limits due to fear of challenges, illustrate the impact of organized censorship campaigns on students' and readers' freedom to read.

In some circumstances, books have been preemptively excluded from library collections, taken off the shelves before they are banned, or not purchased for library collections in the first place.

For Right to Read Day, ALA has released its Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024:

1. All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
2. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
3. (TIE) The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
4. (TIE) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
5. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
6. (TIE) Looking for Alaska by John Green
7. (TIE) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
8. (TIE) Crank by Ellen Hopkins
9. (TIE) Sold by Patricia McCormick
10. Flamer by Mike Curato

There are many ways you can be part of the movement and support your local library and library workers on the ground. For more suggestions on how to get involved and take action in your community, visit the Right to Read Day website.

RELATED READ: What you can do to support libraries right now