Let Books Be
Fall semester has its routines of the energetic (some say chaotic) start of term, a settling in leading up to midterms, cooler weather in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, and then an intense (some say stressful) atmosphere around finals. And every fall, around the beginning of October, libraries participate in Banned Books Week.
Banned Books Week is October 4-10, 2026 – which will be here in no time. This celebration of the freedom to read also draws attention to current and historical attempts to censor books. Libraries, educators, authors, booksellers, and readers participate in the effort to raise awareness about challenged and banned titles.
For 2026, the theme is “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.” This freedom continues to be contested, with cases documented by PEN America and ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom. Book ban data and other resources are also part of the Banned and Challenged Books section of ALA’s website.
At our library, we typically put together a display and Instagram posts, including graphics from ALA and staff selections from historically challenged titles. We’ve also created decoupage bobcats with a banned books theme, which are placed around campus with other groups’ creations for homecoming events.
Academic libraries around the state have also marked past Banned Books Weeks with displays, posts, and programming. These examples from the past few years show what can be done with a little, or a lot, of effort:
- Displays: Duquesne, Susquehanna, Gettysburg
- Posts: Carnegie Mellon, Shippensburg, Community College of Allegheny County (LibGuide)
- Events/Collaborations: Penn State, Albright, Slippery Rock, Bucknell
Some librarians may be planning for their first Banned Books Week on the job. Others may have lost count of how much caution tape or brown paper wrapping they’ve used over the years. The importance of the freedom to read means that the work continues – for Banned Books Week, and year-round.
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