New Banned Books Week Resources Available

The Banned Books Week Coalition has updated its website to include new resources that will help booksellers celebrate the freedom to read. The annual celebration will be held September 23–29. This year’s theme, “Banning Books Silences Stories,” is a reminder that everyone needs to speak out against censorship.

Bookstores that are hosting programming or putting up displays for Banned Books Week 2018 can submit their event to Banned Books Week’s new Upcoming Events page, including stores that opted in to receive a Banned Books Week kit from the American Booksellers Association, which will arrive in stores mid-August and provide the resources to create an engaging Banned Books Week display. Booksellers and their customers can also use the map to find and support other events hosted by bookstores, libraries, universities, and organizations putting on programs that spotlight banned books.

New promotional tools, including posters, infographics, shelf-talkers, graphics to use for social media, and more, are now available for download to help booksellers promote Banned Books Week and share information about censorship.

Booksellers and readers are also invited to share their own virtual read-out video, which may be featured on the Banned Books Week YouTube channel. 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. Booksellers can participate by uploading a video of themselves or their customers reading from a banned book or talking about censorship.

Visit the Banned Books Week website to learn more.