By: Ellie Diaz

This Banned Books Week, let your patrons know that their words have power — especially their tweets.

During Banned Books Week (Sept. 24-30), the Office for Intellectual Freedom is hosting a Rebel Reader Twitter Tournament and your library is invited to partner with us! Among the many benefits of hosting a Rebel Reader Twitter Tournament, partner libraries receive a digital toolkit and are entered into a drawing for intellectual freedom-themed prizes.

What is the Rebel Reader Twitter Tournament?

The Tournament encourages readers to complete any of the below eight action items by posting them on Twitter using the hashtag #RebelReader. The action items are designed to highlight library resources and the joys of unrestricted reading.

One completed action item equals one entry into a drawing for fantastic literary prizes (like signed copies of banned books and Litographs posters), given away daily during Banned Books Week.

What does it mean to be a partner?

Rebel Reader Twitter Tournament partners encourage their patrons or members to participate in the Tournament using their own publicity channels. They’re also welcome to tailor the activity to highlight their own resources using the free Twitter Tournament Toolkit, provided by OIF.

What are the benefits of being a partner?

The title is not without its perks. Partners:

• receive a Twitter Tournament Toolkit, packed with resources to promote the activity. The toolkit includes customizable flyers, tweet samples, bookmarks, GIFs and much more!
• are featured on the Rebel Reader Twitter Tournament homepage, with their logo, website and Twitter handle
• receive tips, reminders and ideas on how to have a special Banned Books Week

Library partners are also entered into a drawing for intellectual-freedom themed prizes!

You mentioned prizes for libraries. What kind of prizes are we talking about?

Prizes for library partners include an Advocacy and Intellectual Freedom Boot Camp hosted at the winning library’s state conference, Intellectual Freedom Manual, 9th edition, Banned Books: Defending Our Freedom to Read and a $50 ALA Store gift card.

Where can libraries and nonprofits sign up to be a partner?

Glad you asked! Libraries and nonprofits can sign up on the Rebel Reader at Your Library webpage. This page also has more details about the Tournament. Check out which libraries have already signed up for the Tournament on the Rebel Reader Twitter Tournament homepage.

Because some social media platforms have age restrictions, your younger readers (younger than 13) may need to participate with the help of a parent or trusted adult.

Questions?

Contact us at bbw@ala.org. We hope you consider joining us in hosting this special social media activity in celebration of Banned Books Week!

 

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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 writing on the intersection of advocacy and literature, contributing to publications such as the Loyola Phoenix, Programming Librarian, BROAD magazine and Mosaic magazine. Ellie is currently working her way through all entries of the newest AP Stylebook and crossing off books from her ever-expanding “to-read” list. Find her on Twitter @EllieintheStax.