This week is national Banned Books Week, an awareness campaign promoting the need for free speech by highlighting banned or challenged books, and sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), as well as other organizations.

Every year, hundreds of books are challenged, from newer publications to literary classics such as Catcher in the Rye, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Of Mice and Men.

Even when books aren't actually banned, a challenge alone can be damaging; it can lead publishers to shy away from publishing material deemed controversial, or lead libraries and bookstores to avoid stocking them.

We deserve to live in a society that fosters openness, and the freedom to express and discuss multiple viewpoints. If you believe in these principles, and if you hear about a book challenged in your local area, you can report it to the ALA website at www.ala.org.

Show you care by reading a banned book.