“Banned” Books Week is a highly profitable gimmick that promotes explicit books under the guise of promoting the “Freedom to Read.” While “Banned” Books Week is officially over, the American Library Association (ALA) and the teachers unions will continue to profit from the “banned” books narrative.

Here are some ways these organizations profited from “banned” books week:

  • “Banned” Books Week giveaways and partnerships with popular publishing companies
  • “Banned” Books Week merchandise and clothing
  • “Banned” Books Week grants and monetary incentives to institutions that promote “banned” books in their libraries
  • Direct donations and monetary drives to promote “banned” books in schools
  • The National Education Association (NEA) partnered with MoveOn, a progressive organization that mobilizes support for left-wing policies and falsely propagates widespread book “bans.”

With strong support from the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), Illinois passed a law earlier this year that prohibits “the practice of banning specific books or resources.” The new law grants librarians in Illinois the “inherent authority” to acquire materials “without external limitation” (community or parent input) and protection against attempts to “remove, or otherwise restrict access to books or other materials,” even explicit and inappropriate books available to children. Illinois libraries that respond to community concerns about providing explicit books to children risk losing state funding.

The teachers unions, along with ideologically-captured school officials, know that the books on the “banned” books lists are still widely available to students and the public. They profit off of these false claims, simultaneously weaseling radical ideology and explicit materials into classrooms.

To learn more about the book ban hoax, read Banned Books Week Isn’t Real. It’s Just Propaganda For Leftist LibrariansJews And The ‘Book Ban’ Lie, and From Potty Language To Pornographic Material.

For more information about teachers unions and book “bans,” visit www.iwf.org/issues/education/