Free to Read

This year's Banned Books Week theme, "Censorship is So 1984. Read for Your Rights,” echoes extreme censorship of an oppressive regime in '1984.'

The Unite Against Book Bans (UABB) campaign's Freedom to Read Day of Action is on Saturday, Oct. 19. The American Library Association created the initiative in response to the uptick in book censorship and banning since 2020.

In recognition of Banned Books Week, September 22-28, the Library hosts "That Librarian" author Amanda Jones on September 25.

During September, the Library highlights Free to Read, Library Card Sign-Up Month, and Banned Books Week. 

Create your own banned books meme through September 19 and submit it for a chance to win a Margaret Atwood boxed set.

The Kansas City Public Library and the San Francisco Public Library teamed up to tackle censorship with a friendly Super Bowl wager.

Running through Saturday, October 7, Banned Books Week annually celebrates our freedom to read, our long-held right to seek and express ideas. While challenges to books in libraries and schools continue to mount, polls and surveys consistently show that’s a minority sentiment. It's time for the majority to make themsel...

The Kansas City Public Library has added and modified a number of its policies in response to a new state rule regarding the age appropriateness of materials and programming.  The changes give parents and guardians an added avenue of control over minors’ access to books and other Library resources,...

Citing concerns about “unintended adverse consequences,” the Kansas City Public Library Board of Trustees is calling for the rejection or revision of a measure proposed by Missouri’s secretary of state regarding protections for minors from “non-age-appropriate materials” in libraries.

Have questions about how the Missouri Secretary if State's proposed rule might impact how you or other community members use the library? We've collected some questions and answers to provide some insights and explanations.