Freedom to Read Community Day of Action Rallies Support for America’s Libraries on October 19
Washington — On the heels of Banned Books Week 2024 (Sept. 22-28), the American Library Association (ALA) and the ALA-founded Unite Against Book Bans campaign are joining some of the nation’s largest and smallest library systems to celebrate America’s libraries, safeguard the freedom to read and encourage civic participation in a Freedom to Read Community Day of Action on October 19.
Organized in partnership with the Brooklyn, Queens and New York Public Libraries, and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, the Freedom to Read Community Day of Action is in response to the wave of book banning and censorship that started gathering momentum in 2020. Coordinated attempts to censor reading material continue to impact schools and public libraries nationwide, threatening the First Amendment rights of all Americans.
ALA President Cindy Hohl said, “At a time when our nation and the world is full of division, there is one place in almost every community with a welcome for everyone. At the library, we can make ourselves at home with a familiar story – and we can step outside our comfort zone with a book about unfamiliar places, characters and ideas. There’s no limit to what we can learn, including how to participate in this democracy that gives us the freedom to read. I call on communities across the nation to show up for their libraries – and each other – on October 19.”
More than 100 events in 35 states and the District of Columbia will bring together diverse communities to share positive, galvanizing messages about the power of libraries and the essential role they play in the functioning of American democracy. Many events will highlight the importance of participation in local, state and federal elections, with several hosting on-site voter registration.
“Book banning has surged at an alarming rate in recent years, with a record number of bans reported last year,” said Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda E. Johnson, New York Public Library President Anthony W. Marx and Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. The three libraries – some of the largest in the nation – are holding separate events that will feature speakers and activities that honor the joy of reading and thinking independently.
“Librarians nationwide are facing verbal abuse, death threats, and, in some cases, even criminal charges and jail time. As bastions of intellectual freedom, public libraries are at the forefront of this battle. On October 19, New York City will join our counterparts across the country to stand up for free, unfettered access to information. Upholding diverse perspectives and a broad range of ideas is not only essential to the core mission of libraries, but to our democracy.”
The full list of local event hosts on the Unite Against Book Bans website reveals a diverse array of participating communities. Ask your local library how you can help fight book bans in your community.
