[Libs-Or] September Tuesday Topic: Banned Books Week (+ Raffle)

Tue Sep 16 09:13:57 PDT 2025

Hi all,

Banned Books Week is right around the corner (October 5-11), so we thought
this would be the perfect time to share some background information and
suggestions for ways to participate from the OLA Intellectual Freedom
Committee. Also, in the spirit of celebration, please share pics and
highlights of your 2025 BBW activities. This can include stories about a
banned book that is meaningful to you and/or pictures from your events,
programs, displays, etc. And did we mention the raffle?! Each submission
(shared story and/or image) will count as entry in a raffle to win your
choice of the top 10 banned books of the year or items from the ALA store
via a "gift certificate" or reimbursement. Let the fun begin! Next week
we'll share ideas for easy to prepare displays and activities. Thanks for
promoting and celebrating the freedom to read!

We do realize Banned Books Week can sometimes bring unexpected responses.
Please know that you aren't alone: we're here to support you.

[image: image.png]

Promoting and Celebrating the Freedom to Read
Tuesday Topics: September 2025

Welcome to Tuesday Topics, a monthly series covering topics with
intellectual freedom implications for libraries of all types. Each message
is prepared by a member of OLA's Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) or a
guest writer. Questions can be directed to the author of the topic or to
the IFC.

Banned Books Week
Fall brings the intellectual freedom celebration known as Banned Books Week
<https://bannedbooksweek.org/> (BBW), which some library staff now refer to
as “Celebrating the Freedom to Read” – a more positive way to frame the
event. While the observance usually occurs in late September, this year it
runs from October 5-11. However, the Oregon Intellectual Freedom Committee
<https://www.olaweb.org/intellectual-freedom-committee-home> encourages
libraries to participate anytime in September or October.[image: image.png]

The 2025 theme is “Censorship is so 1984. Read for Your Rights." This theme
highlights the similarities between current efforts to ban books and
information held in schools, libraries, archives and bookstores, and the
extreme censorship represented in George Orwell’s cautionary tale 1984. It
is a reminder to stand up in defense of our First Amendment right to read
freely.

First Amendment & Core Tenets of Librarianship

The purpose of the observance is to highlight and promote intellectual
freedom and the freedom to read, core tenets of librarianship. The American
Library Association (ALA) “actively advocates and educates in defense of
intellectual freedom—the rights of library users to read, seek information,
and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Intellectual freedom
is a core value of the library profession, and a basic right in our
democratic society. A publicly supported library provides free, equitable,
and confidential access to information for all people of its community” (
source <https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom>).

In response to an increase in challenges to library materials in our state,
the Oregon Library Association and the Intellectual Freedom Committee
adopted the statement below. The ultimate intention is to consolidate and
unify our message statewide and give library staff a go-to answer when
asked for responses about intellectual freedom-related tensions within
libraries.

First Amendment Rights Statement:

The Oregon Library Association adheres to the guiding principles of the
American Library Association’s Code of Ethics
<https://www.ala.org/tools/ethics> and Library Bill of Rights
<https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill>. As such, we fully
support the First Amendment rights of every individual to the intellectual
freedoms to explore ideas, opinions, concepts, topics, and thoughts. Not
every library resource is right for every patron, but the rights of every
patron to make their own personal choices should be honored. We support the
right of parents and guardians to guide their child’s reading and viewing
choices, but that right does not extend to removing choices for others. The
work of libraries and librarians is to serve everyone in their community
and provide resources that are reflective of the world around us.

Programming, Displays, and Social Media…Oh, My!

So, how do libraries participate in Banned Books Week/Freedom to Read Week?
It’s common to schedule related programming, displays, social media posts,
and the like.

   -

   Programming: Programming could include inviting a guest speaker or panel
   to speak about a related topic, organizing a book club to encourage reading
   books that are often or recently challenged, or touching on the concepts of
   book access or representation in books in a storytime for older children or
   a teen event.
   -

   Displays: ALA has a page
   <https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/display>
   of display ideas that primarily focus on banned books, while in a post
   <https://bookriot.com/banned-books-displays/> for Book Riot, Kelly
   Jensen, a librarian in New York, shared great suggestions and tips about
   incorporating advocacy and the freedom to read. There’s also a Pinterest
   collection
   <https://www.pinterest.com/BannedBooksWeek/banned-books-week-displays/>
   featuring pictures of displays.
   -

   Social Media: Another option is to schedule a series of social media
   posts to highlight diverse authors, share quotes about the freedom to read,
   etc. (ALA templates
   <https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/freedownloads>).
   Or, repost what others have shared. For example, author Kelly Yang
   <https://www.instagram.com/kellyyanghk/> is vocal for representation and
   against censoring books, as seen in this reel
   <https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuxJkRzsOJr/>. Remember to tie the posts
   together by using a hashtag such as #FreedomToRead or #BooksForAll.
   -

   Promotional Tools: Additionally, the organizers of BBW offer promotional
   tools <https://bannedbooksweek.org/promotional-tools/> to download and
   merchandise to purchase.
   -

   Your Ideas: If your library participates, we’d love to know what you
   did! Or, share stories about a banned book that is meaningful to you.
   Please send a description, links, pictures, and/or stories to
   ifc.chair at olaweb.org. Each submission received by the end of October
   14th will count as an entry in a raffle to win the top 10 banned books of
   the year or items from the ALA store via a gift certificate or
   reimbursement! In the meantime, take a look at what Oregon library staff
   shared
   <https://www.olaweb.org/assets/IntellectualFreedom/IF_Resources/OLA_IFC_Tue_Topic_2023-10_Banned_Books_Recap.pdf>
   in our last Banned Books Week Show-and-Tell.

Cheers,

Alyssa Donoho and Shelby Paulson, *Co-Chairs <ifc.chair at olaweb.org>*
Oregon Intellectual Freedom Committee

-- 
Chair - ifc.chair at olaweb.org
Intellectual Freedom Committee https://www.olaweb.org/if-home
Oregon Library Association https://www.olaweb.org/

Disclaimer: all information provided by the IFC is intended for
informational purposes only.  This is not to be considered legal advice.
Should you need legal advice, we recommend contacting a practicing attorney
in your jurisdiction.
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