Banned books seem to be everywhere. While some might claim that they are "protecting children" by challenging or banning books from schools, libraries, and other public places, what they are really doing is a form of censorship.

The annual event is meant to bring the book community together in support of literature and the need for having free and open access to information.

While the list of banned books in schools across the country is growing, The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County has a display featuring many forbidden titles as part of Banned Books Week.

Two new reports provide a mixed but compelling outlook on the wave of book removals and challenges as the annual Banned Books Week begins for schools, stores and libraries nationwide.

Banned Books Week kicked off Sunday across the nation, uniting authors, readers, librarians and more in the effort to combat what some data shows as a rise in censorship.