During #BannedBooksWeek, indie booksellers nationwide are posting photos, book picks, and opinions on their social media channels, celebrating and sharing vital information in a variety of creative ways. Here are some recent highlights:
Bookstore on the Square, Fort Collins, Colo.: "It's been a tough couple of days to be an out & proud progressive LGBTQ+ bookstore as we had 3 different people complain about our store's 'biased' selection, including someone who said our books on race 'SHOULD be banned' and our LGBTQ+ books 'should be thrown into a pit' AND someone smeared the title of Gender Queer on our chalkboard sign--ironically the most banned book of 2023. The chalkboard is fixed and will be put out again tomorrow! With Banned Books Week starting tomorrow, we want to say THANK YOU to the many, many supporters we have that lift us up on these tough days dealing with the tiny, noisy few who don't support us. Thank you, Readers!"
Carmichael's Bookstore, Louisville, Ky.: "It's Banned Books Week! Since 1982, Banned Books Week has highlighted the value of free and open access to information and to draw attention to the harms of censorship."
Bluestocking Social, Evansville, Ind.: "We're with the banned. On this display you'll find books that have been challenged or banned at some point in their lives, as well as some resources and further reading recommendations. Celebrate your freedom to read and pick up a banned book today!"
Hyperbole Bookstore, College Station, Tex.: "The newest litter of kittens from Six Kittens Rescue came to play at Hyperbole! And in honor of Banned Books Week, these four little girls are all named after authors. In the first four photos, we've got Harper Lee, Lois Lowry, Judy Blume, and Margaret Atwood, in that order. We promise they're the sweetest kittens around, so if you're looking for a new pet, be sure to check out Six Kittens Rescue!"
Strand Bookstore, New York City: "Get PUMPED UP for Banned Books Week!"
Green Feather Book Company, Norman, Okla.: "Listen. We're tired. (We know y'all are tired of book banning too.) We've decided to celebrate this Banned Books Week by poking fun of the weirdos who think banning books makes more sense than having difficult conversations. Since RW is our current Superintendent Weirdo, we figure he's pretty fair game. (To give credit where it's due, our window signs are a collaboration between us and Eli, our Junior Bookseller, who said, 'you know what would make him REALLY mad? If we put his face on a Pride background! We agreed. We are still chuckling about it, TBH. ENJOY!)."
Peoria Book Rack Gift Booktique, Peoria, Ill.: "So today--with the weather--I did not hide any books outside. So tomorrow--if the weather is good--I will put more outside and post pic clues."
The Bookworm, Omaha, Neb.: "It's Banned Books Week! An annual event that highlights the value of free and open access to information. Here at The Bookworm, as an indie bookstore, it's incredibly important to us that readers and patrons remain able to access the books they want. We believe it's not the place of any one entity to tell another person or group what book(s) they can or cannot read. As this continues to grow as a discernible concern, we'll continue to fight for the right to read."
Southland Books & Cafe, Maryville, Tenn.: "Poppy's Pick this week is The ABA Right To Read Handbook: Fighting Book Bans and Why It Matters. It's Banned Books Week, and Poppy--just like the rest of us here at Southland--knows that censorship threatens our liberties and our literacy."
Bards Alley Bookshop, Vienna, Va.: "#BannedBooksWeek is in full swing, and can you believe these are the top 6 most challenged books of 2023? We've got these titles and more at Bards Alley if you want to shop banned books, support these authors, and see what alllllll that hubbub is about."