By: Ellie Diaz

Banned Books Week 2020 kicks off on September 27! Throughout the week, libraries, schools, bookstores, and organizations will be hosting events that spotlight the freedom to read — make sure to check out events happening around you!

Here are also some virtual events from the American Library Association and its friends to add to your calendar. 

This list will continue to be updated.

Ongoing

• Dear Banned Author: Write, tweet or email your favorite banned/challenged author with these postcards and mailing addresses. You could also win a tote filled with banned book goodies by tweeting your letters.

• #BannedBooksWeek in Action: Engage in these themed activities each day of Banned Books Week and share your progress to inspire others to join the movement for the freedom to read. 

• Stand for the Banned: Submit a video of yourself reading from banned books or talking about censorship, to be featured on the Banned Books Week YouTube channel. 

Sunday, September 27

• #BannedBooksWeek in Action: Read a banned book

• Reveal of the Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books from 2010-2019

• 2 p.m. CST — Video premiere of City Lit Theater performing dramatic excerpts from the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2019 on the Banned Books Week Facebook page

Monday, September 28

• #BannedBooksWeek in Action: Speak out about censorship

• 12 p.m. CST — webinar “Censorship: The Comics Code Authority & Rating Systems” from the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table and the Intellectual Freedom Round Table

• 5 p.m. CST — “Gene Luen Yang Live With Banned Books Week” on NCTE Facebook page

Tuesday, September 29

• #BannedBooksWeek in Action: Create something unrestricted

• 11 a.m. CST — webinar “COVID-19 and Academic Censorship” webinar from SAGE Publishing and the Office for Intellectual Freedom

• 12 p.m. CST — webinar “Banned through Comics Metadata!?” from the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table and the Intellectual Freedom Round Table

• 5 p.m. CST — “Portugal. The Man Live with Banned Books Week” on the National Coalition Against Censorship Facebook page 

Wednesday, September 30

• BannedBooksWeek in Action: Express the freedom to read in style

• 1 p.m. CST — “Alex Gino Live With Banned Books Week” on the Banned Books Week Facebook page

• 12 p.m. CST — “Black People in Comics” webinar from the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table and the Intellectual Freedom Round Table

Thursday, October 1

• #BannedBooksWeek in Action: Write about your rights 

• 12 p.m. CST — “(Un)Welcome to the Comics Industry” webinar from the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table and the Intellectual Freedom Round Table

Friday, October 2

• #BannedBooksWeek in Action: Watch, listen, and learn from others

• 12 p.m. CST — “Comics: “Are These Real Books?” webinar from the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table and the Intellectual Freedom Round Table

• 6 p.m. CST — Watch party of “Scary Stories” documentary and Twitter conversation with #CensorshipisScary

• At 7:45 — Q&A with Director Cody Meirick on the Banned Books Week YouTube channel

Saturday, October 3

• #BannedBooksWeek in Action: Thank those who defend the freedom to read every day of the year

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Ellie Diaz is the Program Officer at the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. With her journalism background and fierce devotion to the freedom to read, Ellie collaborates with experts on organizing ALA’s Banned Books Week and several other projects within OIF. As a biblio-writer, she enjoys exploring the intersection of advocacy and literature.