JOIN US ON OCTOBER 19 TO PROTECT THE FREEDOM TO READ!
The freedom to read is an American value that must be protected. Book bans and challenges in the U.S. reached an all-time high in 2023 and continue to happen at an alarming rate. It's more important than ever to show support for local libraries and the freedom to read.
On Saturday, October 19, 2024, libraries, bookstores, readers, and other partners nationwide are hosting rallies and community events to unite against book bans and demonstrate our shared commitment to this fundamental freedom. Discover everything you need to know to host or attend an event on the Freedom to Read Community Day of Action, get involved online, and take action to protect the freedom to read!
FOR SUPPORTERS
FOR EVENT ORGANIZERS
WHY WE'RE TAKING ACTION
In 2023, book banning and censorship reached an all-time high, with a record 4,240 unique book titles targeted for removal, a 65% increase over the 2,571 unique titles targeted in 2022 and a staggering 128% increase over 2021 numbers. 47% of the books targeted for censorship were titles representing the voices and lived experiences of people of color and people who identify as LGBTQ+. Coordinated censorship attempts continue to happen at an alarming rate, impacting schools and public libraries nationwide and threatening the First Amendment rights of all Americans.
Public and school libraries should be safe havens of knowledge and community, offering access to diverse viewpoints and empowering students and the public to engage with the issues of our time. The Freedom to Read Community Day of Action will unite libraries and elevate the voices of readers nationwide. Stand with us against book bans on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
Freedom to Read Pledge
I stand with readers across the U.S. in support of the freedom to read, which we believe is an American value that must be protected.
Everyone should have the right to choose what they read. Individuals should be trusted to make their own decisions about what they and their families read.
Free access to information and knowledge is fundamental to democracy. Book bans inhibit the free flow of ideas. The freedom to read plays an essential part in informed debate and securing the health of our democratic institutions.
The surge in book banning in our schools and communities is a crisis. Many of the titles targeted for censorship are by or about people of color and people who identify as LGBTQIA+. Book bans harm, isolate, and discriminate against people of color and LGBTQIA+ people by denying them access to stories that reflect their lives. Everyone deserves to see themselves in the pages of books.
Once you have signed the pledge form, you will have the option to contact your representatives in Congress to make them aware of your stance on this important issue.
* Note: The list of gendered prefixes in this menu is a system requirement for the federal Congressional communication service that delivers these messages. ALA and multiple other organizations have requested changes to allow for more expansive self-identification.
FOR SUPPORTERS
FIND AN EVENT NEAR YOU
Communities and readers across the country are coming together to unite against book bans! Here are the participating organizations we know about, organized by state. Don't see yours? Let us know about it! And make sure to check with your local library to see if there is an event near you!
*Organizations below marked with an asterisk will offer social media support for the day of action, in lieu of hosting an event.
Alabama
Gadsen
Gadsen Public Library | Website
Huntsville
At The Root Collective | Event Info
Virtual
Alabama Library Association (ALLA) | Website
Arizona
Page
Page Public Library | Website
Phoenix
Phoenix Public Library | Website
Tucson
*Pima County Public Library | Website
Arkansas
Little Rock
*Central Arkansas Library System | Website
California
California Library Association | Website
Castro Valley
Alameda County Library, Castro Valley | Website
Fremont
Alameda County Library | Website
Los Angeles
Brown Bear Books | Website
LA County Library | Website
Community Literature Initiative & Sims Library of Poetry | Website
Oceanside
*Oceanside Public Library |Website
Pasadena
Pasadena Public Library | Website
Sacramento
*Sacramento Public Library | Website
San Diego
Library Foundation SD | Website
San Francisco
San Francisco Public Library | Event Info
San Jose (Virtual)
The Harker School | Website
Santa Monica
*Santa Monica Public Library | Website
Sonoma County
*Sonoma Couty Public Library | Website
Colorado
Denver
BookGive | Website
The Bookies | Website
Rifle
Garfield County Public Library District | Website
Connecticut
Hartford
Hartford Public Library | Website
Stamford
*Ferguson Library | Website
Delaware
Wilmington
Wilmington Institute Free Library | Website
District of Columbia
Virtual
Hope in a Box | Website
Florida
Coral Springs
Broward County Library, Northwest Regional Library | Website
Fort Lauderdale
Broward County Library | Website
Gainesville
The Lynx | Website
Jacksonville
Cafe Resistance Bookstore | Website
Lake Park
Lake Park Public Library | Website
Pembroke Pines
Pembroke Pines/Walter C. Young Resource Center | Event Info
Southwest Regional Library | Event Info
Southwest Regional/Broward College Library | Event 1 & Event 2
Georgia
Jonesboro
Clayton County Library System | Website
Illinois
Cahokia
Cahokia Public Library District |Website
DeKalb
Robin's Nest Bookshoppe | Website
Rock Island
Rock Island Public Library | Website
Schaumburg
Schaumburg Township District Library | Website
Skokie
Skokie Public Library | Website
Steger
Steger School District 194 | Website
Indiana
Jeffersonville
Jeffersonville Township Public Library | Website
Muncie
Unitarian Universalist Church of Muncie | Website
Zionsville
Curious Squirrel Bookshop | Website
Iowa
Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids Public Library | Website
Iowa City
Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation | Website
Iowa City
Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature | Event Info
Manson
*Manson Public Library | Website
Kansas
Lawrence
Lawrence Public Library | Website
Lenexa
Friends of Johnson County Library | Website
Kentucky
Paris
Paris-Bourbon County Library | Website
Louisiana
Louisiana Library Association | Website
Maine
Damariscotta
Skidompha Public Library | Website
Limington
*Davis Memorial Library | Website
Old Orchard Beach
*Libby Memorial Library |Website
Sanford
*Goodall Memorial Library | Website
Scarborough
Scarborough Public Library | Website
Windham
Windham Public Library | Website
Maryland
Annapolis
Anne Arundel County Public Library (multiple branches) | Website
Baltimore
Baltimore County Public Library | Website
Chestertown
Washington College Miller Library | Website
Massachusetts
Boston
Boston Public Library | Website
Cambridge
Cambridge Public Library | Website
Quincy
Thomas Crane Public Library | Website
Weymouth
The Next Chapter Books and More | Website
Williamstown
David and Joyce Milne Public Library | Website
Michigan
Flint
Gloria Coles Flint Public Library | Website
Missouri
Kansas City
East High School | Website
Kansas City
Kansas City Public Library |Website
St. Louis
St. Louis Public Library | Website
Virtual
MO Equity Education Project | Website
Montana
Helena
Montana Book Company | Website
Nebraska
Omaha
Omaha Public Library | Website
South Sioux City
*South Sioux City Public Library | Website
Nevada
Las Vegas
Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Enterprise Branch | Event Info
Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Centennial Hills Branch | Event Info
Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Rainbow Branch | Event Info
New Hampshire
Orford
Orford Social Library | Website
New Jersey
Bergenfield
Bergenfield Public Library |Website
Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill Public Library | Website
Cranbury
Cranbury Public Library | Website
Edgewater
Edgewater Free Public Library | Website
Fair Lawn
Maurice M. Pine Library | Website
Florence
New Jersey Library Association | Website
Gloucester County
Gloucester County Library System | Website
Hoboken
Hoboken Public Library | Website
Jersey City
*Jersey City Free Public Library | Website
Linden
*The Linden Public Library | Website
Linwood
Linwood Public Library | Website
Livingston
Livingston Public Library | Event Info
Maplewood
Maplewood Memorial Library | Website
Monroe Township
Monroe Township Library | Website
Montclair
*Montclair Public Library | Website
Moorestown
Moorestown Library | Website
Newark
Newark Public Library | Website
Pennsauken
Pennsauken Free Public Library | Website
Rutherford
Rutherford Public Library | Website
South Orange
South Orange Public Library | Website
West Caldwell
West Caldwell Public Library | Website
West Orange
West Orange Public Library | Website
New York
Albany
Albany Public Library | Website
Alexandria Bay
*Macsherry Library | Website
Barker
Barker Public Library | Website
Brooklyn
Brooklyn Public Library | Event Info
Claverack
*Claverack Free Library | Website
Goshen
Goshen Public Library and Historical Society | Website
New York City
The New York Public Library | Event Info
North Syracuse
*Northern Onondaga Public Library | Website
Ovid
Edith B. Ford Memorial Library | Website
Queens
Queens Public Library | Event Info
Rochester
Rochester Public Library | Website
Speculator
Lake Pleasant Public Library | Website
North Carolina
Charlotte
*Charlotte Mecklenburg Library | Website
Monroe
Archimedes' Loft: books & more | Website
North Dakota
Bismarck
North Dakota Library Association | Website
Devils Lake
Lake Region Public Library | Website
Ohio
Dayton
Dayton Metro Library | Website
Youngston (Virtual)
Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County | Website
Oklahoma
Garfield County
Library Revolution
Oklahoma City
The Floating Bookshop | Website
Oregon
Tillamook
Tillamook County Library | Website
Pennsylvania
Easton
Easton Area Public Library | Event Info
Pittsburgh
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh | Event Info
Rhode Island
Cranston
*Cranston Public Library | Website
Warren
George Hail Free Library | Event Info
South Carolina
Beauford
DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization) | Website
Columbia
All Good Books | Website
Tennessee
Nashville
Vanderbilt University, Peabody Library | Website
Texas
Austin
Austin Public Library | Website
Brazos Valley
*Carabiner Collections, Inc. | Website
Cedar Hill
Traphene Hickman Library | Website
Dallas
BLACKLIT | Website
Dallas Public Library | Event Info
Wholly Informed Sex Ed | Website
Fort Worth
The Dock Bookshop | Website
Georgetown
Authors Against Book Bans TX Chapter | Website
Pflugerville
The Book Burrow | Website
San Marcos
*San Marco Public Library | Website
Spring
Harris County Public Library, Barbara Bush Branch | Event Info
Utah
Salt Lake City
League of Utah Writers | Event Info
Salt Lake City Public Library | Website
Smithfield
Smithfield Public Library | Event Info
Vermont
South Burlington
South Burlington Public Library | Website
Windsor
Windsor Public Library | Event Info
Virginia
Leesburg
Silent Book Club Leesburg | Website
Norfolk
Virginia Library Association | Website
Washington
Seattle
Seattle Public Library | Website
Virtual
Washington State Library and Washington Center for the Book | Website
Wyoming
Thermopolis
Hot Springs County Library | Website
National
National organizations that have signed up to support the the Freedom to Read Community Day of Action include American Booksellers Association, Authors Against Book Bans, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, The BookFest, OverDrive, Silent Book Club, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Teaching for Change and United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY).
MORE WAYS TO TAKE ACTION
There are lots of ways you can take action as an individual, in your community, and online to help protect the freedom to read and become more informed about and engaged in democracy.
Check out our toolkit.
The Unite Against Book Bans Action Toolkit includes talking points, ways to contact decision makers and media, social media tools, printable branded materials, ideas for grassroots organizing, and more.
Register to vote!
Check your registration status and find out what's on the ballot wherever you're voting. Please note that voter registration deadlines vary between states.
Report censorship.
The American Library Association maintains a database of attempted challenges and bans. If a book challenge takes place in your district, ALA may be able to provide support and more customized resources to oppose the attempted challenge or ban. Most censorship goes unreported. You can help us track trends, identify targeted titles, and develop support materials by submitting a censorship report. All reports are kept strictly confidential.
Check out (and read!) a banned book.
Libraries keep a lot of statistics, among them how frequently books are used in or checked out from the library. These circulation statistics prove that people want to read challenged or banned titles and support keeping those in or adding similar titles to the collection. Browse ALA's list of Frequently Challenged Books, find one that interests you, and check it out from your library! If they don't have it, request it via interlibrary loan (ILL) and ask that your library purchase a copy. And if the book is already checked out, request to put it on hold so you can check it out when it returns.
FOR EVENT ORGANIZERS
REGISTER YOUR EVENT
If you're planning to host an event for the Freedom to Read Community Day of Action, we want to know about it! Let us know the details and we'll add you to our list of community events happening across the country.
Not sure where to start? Read on for tips on how to host and promote your Day of Action event.
EVENT GUIDE & PROMO KIT
Top Tips for Organizing Your Event
1. Read our guidance for event organizers and speakers. Follow these simple instructions to keep the Freedom to Read Community Day of Action a nonpartisan event.
2. Pick a time on Saturday, October 19, that will work best for your community.
3. Choose a location where a crowd can gather. Be sure to prepare any tech (microphones, screens, stage) you may need.
4. Coordinate with local officials and police to help keep your event safe and fun for all.
Precautions to take include:
-
- Monitoring social media and emails for threats or indications of planned protest activity.
- Inspecting areas around planned event venues for suspicious articles or persons, and restricting access to only those authorized.
- Reporting any suspicious activity as soon as possible to security and law enforcement.
- Reviewing ALA's strategies and resources for responding to and preparing for potentially controversial programs.
- Being prepared to answer common questions about book bans.
5. Get informed! Check out these talking points and key messages about book bans and challenges and what we are hoping to achieve with the Freedom to Read Community Day of Action.
6. Gather speakers. Invite people who are passionate about the freedom to read to speak about it. Consider local community leaders, authors, librarians, or educators who want to share personal stories, elected officials (but not candidates for office), and performers. Be sure to choose an emcee who can facilitate the event! Share with them all the guidance for event organizers and speakers.
7. Consider having music or a DJ.
8. Gather partners. Invite other local organizations and groups who may be interested in participating, e.g. nonpartisan voter education groups, faith-based organizations, school leadership, or local small businesses.
9. Plan activations and activities. Consider hosting family-friendly activities and programs leading up to, during, or following your event, such as:
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- A march, parade, or rally with sign-making and participation prompts
- Banned book storytimes and community read-ins
- Panel discussions that include student perspectives
- Community murals, button- and bookmark-making, arts and crafts
- Film screenings
- Book displays of banned materials or book recommendations
- Giveaways and merch (buttons, stickers, bookmarks)
- Civic participation stations to check voter registration and create a plan to vote
10. Spread the word!
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- Use the poster and flyer below in your community to let people know about your Day of Action
- Use our social media toolkit to get the word out online!
- Reach out to local press who may want to cover the event two to three days beforehand. Download this sample media advisory and personalize it with your own logo and event information.
- Register your event with us so we can include you on our list of participating sites around the country.
Promotional Materials for Your Event
Looking for ways to promote your event online? Check out our social media toolkit.
ABOUT THE FREEDOM TO READ COMMUNITY DAY OF ACTION
The Freedom to Read Community Day of Action on Saturday, October 19, 2024, is being organized by the American Library Association, the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library, Queens Public Library, and Unite Against Book Bans, in collaboration with libraries and advocates nationwide.
Unite Against Book Bans is a national coalition led by the American Library Association. As a 501(c)(3), ALA and its Unite campaign do not support or endorse candidates for political office. Unite's voter resources are informed by ALA's Reader Voter Ready campaign.
SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT
Spread the word about the #FreedomToRead Community Day of Action by sharing these graphics on your social media. Tag us on Instagram and Facebook (@UniteAgainstBookBans) and Twitter/X (@UABookBans).
For more sizes and a suggested social media plan, check out our full social media guide.
Sample Social Posts
Provided here are captions to share your excitement about the #FreedomToRead Community Day of Action. Feel free to use the language below or adjust the captions to align more with your individual or organizational voice. This content should be posted in the weeks leading up to October 19, starting with Banned Books Week, which runs September 22–28.
For Supporters
All social platforms
Join me and thousands of readers across the country for the #FreedomToRead Community Day of Action on Saturday, October 19! Libraries and communities nationwide are hosting events to show support for our right to read! Find all participating locations: uniteagainstbookbans.org/dayofaction
For Event Hosts
Instagram and Facebook
We’re excited to participate in the #FreedomToRead Community Day of Action on Saturday, October 19! Show support for our right to read freely by joining us and @UniteAgainstBookBans: [INSERT YOUR WEBPAGE LINK OR LINK IN BIO]
Twitter/X
We’re excited to participate in the #FreedomToRead Community Day of Action on Saturday, October 19! Show support for our right to read freely by joining us and @UABookBans: [INSERT YOUR WEBPAGE LINK]
Check out our full social media guide, including guidelines on what to post during your Day of Action.