Banned Books Week 2014 is coming up in less than a month, and this year the focus is on comics and graphic novels! As a sponsor of the annual week celebrating the freedom to read, CBLDF wants to hear from librarians, retailers, educators, publishers, and others about any events they may be planning.
This year, Banned Books Week will take place Sept. 21-27. If you are organizing a public event such as a readout or book discussion, please email betsy.gomez@cbldf.org so we can let the world know! And of course don’t forget to also tell the coordinators at the American Library Association so your event can be featured on BannedBooksWeek.org.
CBLDF offers a variety of resources to help with your comics-themed event planning. First, there’s our Banned Books Week Handbook, available to order in bundles or as a free download. The handbook includes ideas for events and displays, information about what comics are frequently banned or challenged, and how to report and fight censorship in your community. In the CBLDF Rewards Zone, you can also order a Banned Books Week kit which includes a bundle of 50 handbooks plus 20 stickers and 10 buttons all proclaiming the bearer’s love for banned comics! If your plans include a book discussion, we also have some free discussion guides for popular banned and challenged graphic novels.
Watch this space for a roundup of events nationwide in advance of the big week. We can’t wait to hear what our comic-loving readers are planning to raise awareness of the freedom to read in their communities!
We need your help to keep fighting for the right to read! Help support CBLDF’s important First Amendment work by visiting the Rewards Zone, making a donation, or becoming a member of CBLDF!
Contributing Editor Maren Williams is a reference librarian who enjoys free speech and rescue dogs.