#BannedBooksWeek in Action invites readers to participate in a different activity that spotlights literary activism each day of Banned Books Week (September 27 – October 3, 2020).

Readers and libraries are invited to share their activities widely on social media with the hashtag #BannedBooksWeek to encourage others to join the movement for the freedom to read!

Below are the highlighted actions and activity ideas for each day. You can also download the daily schedule for #BannedBooksWeek in Action. Visit the ala.org website for more shareables.

Sunday

Read a banned book 

• Take a picture of your favorite banned book 
• Snap a banned book “shelfie”
• Check in at a local business or restaurant while reading a banned book
• Visit your local library to check out a banned book you didn’t know you always wanted to read
• Read a banned book electronically
• Listen to a banned audiobook

Monday

Speak out about censorship 

• Submit a Stand for the Banned video
• Share infographics or statistics about the harms of censorship
• Perform a play about banned books (such as The Sledding Hill  — a play based on the book by Chris Crutcher and adapted for the stage by playwright Jarrett Dapier)
• Perform at an Open Mic Night or Poetry Slam

Tuesday

Create something unrestricted 

• Share your library’s banned book displays and programs on social media
• Create or participate in crafts based on banned titles
• Draw a comic about the freedom to read
• Use sidewalk chalk to express your love of banned books
• Make an “I Read Banned Books” T-shirt
• Write a poem
• Create art

Wednesday

Express the freedom to read in style 

• Share pictures of your bookmarks, buttons, and T-shirts that take a stand against censorship
• Dress up as a favorite banned book character 

Thursday

Write about your rights 

• Participate in the Dear Banned Author letter-writing campaign
• Blog about unrestricted access
• Send letters-to-the-editor of your local newspaper
• Publish a Facebook post about the harms of censorship

Friday

Watch, listen, and learn from others 

• Attend webinars about censorship
  • Join the ALA Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table, and Image Comics for their webinar series featuring creators and librarians in conversation about censorship and intellectual freedom. This Friday’s program is “Comics: “Are These Real Books?”
  • Find webinar recordings on the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom YouTube channel
• Watch banned book movie adaptations 
• Host a Scary Stories documentary watch party
• Listen to First Amendment podcasts or playlists
• Join a Twitter Chat about censorship

Saturday

Thank those who defend the freedom to read every day of the year

• Nominate your local librarian for the I Love My Librarian Award
• Send thank-you emails or tweets to librarians, booksellers, journalists, and authors — those who protect your right to access information
• Show your appreciation for libraries by highlighting the ways they support voter participation

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Tag @OIF in your #BannedBooksWeek in Action posts and you might be added to the daily round up of activity!