Tune in throughout Banned Books Week for a series of free online events featuring authors, librarians, and activists working to fight censorship! Check out some highlights below, and find complete information on the Office for Intellectual Freedom Blog.
Authors and Advocates on Fighting Book Bans
Wednesday, October 4, 1:00pm ET / 12:00pm CT
The last few years have seen an unparalleled attack on the right to read and organized campaigns against certain types of literature and programming in public and school libraries. No one person or organization can face this fight alone, and we all need to take direct action to combat censorship. Join author John Green (Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars), writer and illustrator Mike Curato (Flamer), librarian and Texas FReadom Fighters co-founder Becky Calzada, and Banned Books Week Youth Honorary Chair Da’Taeveyon Daniels for a conversation about the impact of book bans and the ways in which they have taken action to fight censorship. The program will close with a short Q&A.
LeVar Burton LIVE in Conversation with Da’Taeveyon Daniels
Wednesday, October 4, 8:00pm ET / 7:00pm CT
Actor, director, literacy advocate—and Banned Books Week 2023 Honorary Chair—LeVar Burton will discuss his anti-censorship work with Banned Books Week Youth Honorary Chair Da’Taeveyon Daniels during this rare live event, which will stream on the Banned Books Week Facebook page. Follow @BannedBooksWeek, and join us October 4, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. CDT!
Rally for the Right to Read: A Banned Books Week Event
Thursday, October 5, 2:00pm ET / 1:00pm CT
Join Penguin Random House, Booklist, and Unite Against Book Bans for a special Banned Books Week event as we premiere the video of Ibram X. Kendi’s motivating and moving speech from Rally for the Right to Read at the 2023 ALA Annual Conference. Introduced by Tracie D. Hall, Executive Director of the American Library Association, in conversation with Chris Jackson, EVP, Publisher, & Editor-in-Chief of One World—this hour-long webinar will celebrate the right to read and librarians’ role in providing access for all. Representatives from Unite Against Book Bans will also join the webinar to share resources and offer a myriad of ways that viewers can join in the fight for the freedom to read.
Ten lucky LIVE webinar attendees will win a full set of Ibram X. Kendi’s books for their library.
A Seat at the Table: Youth Advocates on Fighting Book Bans
Thursday, October 5, 8:00pm ET / 7:00pm CT
Some of the strongest voices in the fight against book bans are the students that censors claim they are protecting. Join Banned Books Week Youth Honorary Chair Da’Taeveyon Daniels for an inspiring roundtable discussion about youth advocacy in South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, and how that work can inform opposition to censorship around the country. Join us on Facebook (@BannedBooksWeek) or register at the link below.
Let Freedom Read Day
Saturday, October 7
Saturday, October 7, will mark Let Freedom Read Day, the first Banned Books Week day of action. From calling decision-makers to checking out or buying banned books, to writing letters and more, everyone is encouraged to do at least one thing to defend the right to read and to speak on behalf of those who ensure access to information.
Visit BannedBooksWeek.org to find more events.