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 Read-Out

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

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, United States

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 Books Read-In with the Shimer Great Books School

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

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, United States

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, United States

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, United States

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

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, United States

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