Freedom to Read Week, opens a new window (February 18-24) is a special time that calls on people everywhere to support the right to read, share ideas, and speak freely. It's when communities, libraries, and advocates in Canada join forces to fight against censorship and keep the joy of reading open to everyone.
With so many people, organizations, and communities actively upholding our right to read freely, we thought we’d take the opportunity to share some of our favourite standout initiatives, campaigns, and efforts showing the creative and passionate work being done surrounding the freedom to read year-round.
Standout Freedom to Read Efforts
Engaging Events by the American Library Association (ALA)
In 2023, the American Library Association ALA organized a series of exciting events using digital tools to connect people and promote advocacy. A key event was a live talk with LeVar Burton, opens a new window (actor and author, best known for roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Reading Rainbow) and Da’Taeveyon Daniels, opens a new window (Youth Honorary Chair) on Facebook Live, which drew many viewers and highlighted how stories help us understand different lives and experiences. ALA also hosted a webinar with Ibram X. Kendi, opens a new window (author, professor, anti-racist activist, and historian of race and discriminatory policy in America), offering insights into racial justice and books. Additionally, roundtable discussions with young advocates gave new ideas on how to fight book bans, sharing useful tips and building community. The ALA celebrated Let Freedom Read Day with activities like reading banned books on YouTube, showing the strong will of readers and writers against censorship.
Why We Love It: The ALA's use of digital events and high profile figures shows how technology and advocates can connect and attract different voices in the fight for the freedom to read. Their events are not just informative but also encourage people to take action, showing the important role libraries play in starting conversations and sharing various stories.
San Diego State University (SDSU) Student Read Out
In 2023, SDSU held a Student Read Out event during Banned Books Week, opens a new window, marking the university's commitment to sharing knowledge. Students and teachers came together to support books that have been banned or challenged by reading aloud, creating a lively space for discussions about censorship. By focusing on these books, SDSU highlighted the importance of hearing different views and the essential role of academic freedom in seeking truth and knowledge.
Why We Love It: SDSU's effort to fight censorship through education and active involvement shows the impact academic groups can have in protecting the freedom to read. This action not only resists censorship, but also encourages people to stand up for intellectual freedom wherever they are.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Interactive Events
In 2023, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, opens a new window introduced innovative online events to get people talking about banned and challenged books. They created a digital escape room to help participants understand the effects of censorship, while also boosting their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Events like teen trivia, bingo, and Kahoot! were fun, educational, and sparked conversations about the themes and authors of challenged books. These creative events helped raise awareness about censorship and the importance of free access to literature.
Why We Love It: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s fun online events show how learning and engagement can work together. By using creative activities, they brought important issues into community discussions, proving that innovative programs can make a big difference in the fight for the freedom to read.
Book Sanctuaries
Libraries in cities like Calgary, opens a new window, Toronto, opens a new window, and Ottawa, opens a new window, have adopted the concept of book sanctuaries, opens a new window, initiated by Chicago Public Library, opens a new window, which strongly oppose book bans by providing a haven for controversial titles. These sanctuaries promise to keep and share books that have been banned or challenged elsewhere, making sure readers can explore a wide array of ideas and stories. This move not only protects the freedom to read but also sends a strong message about libraries' role as champions of intellectual freedom and information access.
Why We Love It: Book sanctuaries show libraries' commitment to ensuring the right to read, even when faced with censorship. This movement underlines the need for collective action in keeping diverse voices and stories available, reinforcing the public library as a fundamental part of a democratic society.
Brooklyn Public Library's Books Unbanned Initiative
The Books Unbanned initiative, started by the Brooklyn Public Library, is a shining example of resistance against the rise of book bans in the United States. In response to rising book challenges, particularly within the YA (young adult) category, the program offers free Brooklyn Public lIbrary e-cards to anyone in the United States between the ages of 13 -21. By providing plenty of online resources, support, a safe space for exploration, and more, the initiative makes sure the next generation is informed, enlightened, and free to form their own views. The program is meeting its objectives; more than 10,000 teens from all 50 states have borrowed titles, and, the initiative has been adopted by other libraries, such as Seattle Public Library, opens a new window, Boston Public Library, opens a new window, LA County Library, opens a new window, and more.
Why We Love It: Books Unbanned directly addresses censorship, providing access for young library users to read threatened stories and ideas. This program reflects the library's core mission to encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for the wide range of thought and creativity, playing a crucial role in the fight for free expression. Additionally, its online platform means it’s accessible to people outside of the libraries' catchment areas.
The Ezra Klein Show featuring Emily Drabinski
This episode, opens a new window of The Ezra Klein Show is highly recommended listening. The talk between guest host Tressie McMillan Cottom (writer, sociologist, and associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science) and Emily Drabinski (president of the American Library Association) explored the political and cultural worries leading to library attacks. This discussion touches on the many ways libraries help bridge social gaps, offer important services, and protect the public's right to information. By comparing libraries to other essential services and discussing the effects of censorship, the conversation highlights the wider impact of limiting access to information.
Why We Love It: This episode reminds us of the lasting importance of libraries in creating an informed, active, and inclusive society. It stresses the need to defend these spaces from censorship, showing the library as a key part of democratic life.
Poets, Essayists and Novelists (PEN) Canada's Voices of Freedom Event
In 2023, PEN Canada's Voices of Freedom, opens a new window reading series brought attention to exiled writers' stories, offering a look into the fight for free speech around the world. By sharing their experiences, these writers, including Bushra Elfadil, Kiran Nazish, Alexander Duarte, and Luis Horacio Najera, showed how writing can cross borders and emphasized storytelling's role in pushing for human rights and justice. This event, which highlighted the publication of The Uncaged Voice, opens a new window, written by PEN Canada’s Writers in Exile Collective, opens a new window, reminds us of the high cost of censorship and the enduring courage of those who stand up for the right to speak and write freely.
Why We Love It: Voices of Freedom celebrates the determination of writers who continue to share their stories despite exile and censorship. It's a strong example of how literature can connect cultures, build empathy, and drive change, reminding us of the value of fighting for the freedom to express ourselves.
A Year-Round Commitment
These efforts to support intellectual freedom are more than campaigns—they demonstrate our need for knowledge, conversation, and expression. These diverse initiatives remind us of our shared power to challenge censorship, celebrate diverse voices, and uphold the fundamental right to read. Let's keep this spirit alive beyond Freedom to Read Week by working together to ensure that access to books, knowledge and ideas is always available and protected.
To learn more about Freedom to Read Week, visit freedomtoread.ca, opens a new window
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