Every year, bookstores, libraries, universities, and organizations host engaging programs that spotlight censorship. Are you hosting an event for Banned Books Week? Putting up a display? Let us know about it, and we’ll share it here for the world to find!

If you are organizing a virtual event, choose “Virtual Event” for the venue. If it is an in-person event, please provide complete address and time information, as well as contact information so we can send queries for clarification. Otherwise, we cannot guarantee your event will display correctly. Thank you!

If you have any questions, please email coordinator@bannedbooksweek.org

Banned Books Week with Redux Society

Redux Society 215 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO

Banned Books Week is an annual event that celebrates open access to books in our schools, libraries, and communities. This is Redux Society's first year participating, and we have a full week of Book Bingo, Book Discussions, and more! As an LGBT+, BIPOC, and Woman-owned bookstore, it is more important than ever to raise these ... Read More

Free

Banned Books Read-Out

First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City 600 NW 13th St, Oklahoma City, OK

In honor of Banned Books Week and in protest of censorship of books with LGBTQIA+ and racial equity themes in Oklahoma schools and libraries, we are holding a public reading of some of the most banned and challenged books of the past five years. Readings will be modified to be appropriate for families with middle-school-aged ... Read More

Free

Banned Book read-a-loud

John C. Fant Memorial Library 1200 5th Avenue S, Columbus, MS

Since the inception of Banned Books Week in 1982, libraries and bookstores throughout the country have staged local read-outs, continuous readings of banned and challenged books. This year, we will join the action by hosting a read-aloud of banned books, explaining their importance and sharing their words. Join us virtually or in-person on Monday, September ... Read More

Banned Book Week Read-In With Love

Park Springs Park, Bentonville, AR 300 NW 10th St, Bentonville, AR

Join Girl Scout Troop 5209 and PFLAG of NWA for a Read-In With Love! Bring a banned or challenged book to read, one to donate, and enjoy crafts, snacks, and trivia at the park.

Free

Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses”

Dallas Institute of Humanities & Culture 2723 Routh St, Dallas, TX

Salman Rushdie’s exuberant novel, The Satanic Verses, has cast a long shadow since its publication almost 35 years ago. Most recently, with the horrific attempt on Rushdie's life, we are reminded of what is at stake in our world: the ability to speak, write, and create without fear. Yet what exactly are the true literary ... Read More

$30

Banned Books Read-In at North Central College

Oesterle Library at North Central College 320 School Street, Naperville, IL

Celebrate your favorite banned books out loud with the Shimer Great Books School! The Shimer Great Books School at North Central College invites you to a “read-in” in our Oesterle Library and Learning Commons. Bring a selection from your favorite banned book to read out loud, discuss with Shimer students and faculty, and learn more ... Read More

Free

Banned Books Read-In with the Shimer Great Books School

Oesterle Library at North Central College 320 School Street, Naperville, IL

In defiance of recent and ongoing book bannings, we’ll be occupying and reading to the main room of Oesterle Library on Wednesday, September 21, at 5:00 pm. All are welcome to converse, eat some dinner (on us!), and read a selection out loud from your favorite banned book. If you’d like to read but aren’t ... Read More

Free

Banned Books Readout: Exploring Our Cultures

Lake Shore Branch, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library 4857 Lake Shore Rd #5543, Hamburg, NY

Join us as we explore the stories of our rich and diverse cultures. This program is for those wishing to hear storeis from censored books during Banned Books Week. Books will be read by members of the represented communities. Appropriate for ages 6-12.

Banned Book Reading

The Alwun House 1204 East Roosevelt Street, Phoenix, AZ

The Arizona LGBT+ History Project will be hosting its Banned Books Reading on Friday, Sept 23 at the Alwun House  - 1204 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ 85006. This will be a very special adult story time that focuses on book censorship, in conjunction with events like this happening across the country. Come participate in ... Read More

$10

Banned Books at Brick Road Coffee!

brick road coffee 4415 S Rural Rd Suite 10, Tempe, AZ

Drag Story Hour - Arizona's first in-person Banned Books Week event since 2019! Please join Freddy Prinze Charming at Brick Road Coffee to learn how censorship affects the world of children's literature and how you and your family can advocate for the freedom to read! Visit bannedbooksweek.org for more information on Banned Books Week. Find our booklist ... Read More

Free

Pushing Back Against the Banning of Books

East Side Freedom Library 1105 Greenbrier Street, Saint Paul, MN

Access to books and ideas are at the center of the cultural and political war raging in the United States, and libraries and schools have become battlegrounds. The East Side Freedom Library intends to be a space where ideas can be freely discussed and where books from diverse cultural and ideological perspectives are available. We ... Read More

Free

Maus – An In Person Reading

New Brunswick Free Public Library 58 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ

An in-person book reading of Maus on  Saturday, 9/24/2022, from 2:00PM - 5:00PM at the New Brunswick Free Public Library's Henry Guest House. The location is: 58 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901.  Masks are required!   https://www.nbfpl.org/

Free

A Surge of Book Banning: An Ominous Move Toward a Fascist America. Needed: Resistance – and Revolution!

Revolution Books Berkeley 2444 Durant Ave., Berkeley, CA

Teacher/resister Summer Boismier, author Julia Scheeres, librarian Sheila Dickinson, and the staff of Revolution Books We will read from some of the targeted books and discuss the epidemic of book banning, the ominous signal it sends about where some powerful forces want to take this country, why it has exploded across America especially, but not ... Read More

Banned Books Community Read Aloud

Chapel Hill Public Library 100 Library Drive, Chapel Hill, NC

As part of Banned Books Week, we've invited community guests to read excerpts from favorite children's books that have recently been banned or challenged to “see what all the fuss is about.” All ages are welcome. Banned Books Week is an annual, national celebration of your freedom to read, held September 18 – 24 this year. ... Read More