Right to Read Day — US

Right to Read Day fell on Monday, April 20, as the American Library Association opened National Library Week and tied the observance to its annual report on censorship and library use. (ala.org) The day is run through the American Library Association’s Unite Against Book Bans campaign, which calls it a day for readers, advocates, and library supporters to “protect, defend, and celebrate” access to books. The campaign says it launched Right to Read Day in 2023. (uniteagainstbookbans.org) (ala.org) This year’s observance was scheduled to coincide with the release of the 2026 State of America’s Libraries Report and the list of the most challenged books of 2025. The American Library Association’s National Library Week page said the report would be released on April 20, the first full day of the April 19-25 celebration. (ala.org) (uniteagainstbookbans.org) By Monday morning, the association had released new figures showing 4,235 unique titles challenged in 2025, which it called the second-highest total on record. The American Library Association also published a Top 11 list of the most challenged books for 2025. (ala.org) Right to Read Day is built around a simple fight over access: whether books stay on library and school shelves or are removed after formal complaints. The American Library Association says the pressure now often comes from organized groups, elected officials, board members, and administrators rather than only from individual parents. (ala.org) (uniteagainstbookbans.org) The association’s earlier report, which looked back at 2024, counted 821 attempts to censor library materials and 2,452 unique titles challenged. That was down from 1,247 attempts in 2023, but the group still described 2024 as one of the highest years for library censorship since it began tracking in 1990. (americanlibrariesmagazine.org) Supporters of restrictions say some books contain sexual content or age-inappropriate material and should not be available to children in school libraries. Unite Against Book Bans and the American Library Association argue that broad removals sweep in books about race, gender, and LGBTQ+ lives and narrow what entire communities can read. (uniteagainstbookbans.org) (usnews.com) National Library Week’s 2026 theme is “Find Your Joy,” and Right to Read Day is the Monday anchor of that weeklong program. The American Library Association paired that upbeat theme with a fresh set of censorship numbers, putting the fight over who gets to choose library books at the center of this year’s kickoff. (ala.org 1) (ala.org 2)