We knew it was coming and here it is. On Friday night, March 14, Trump dropped an executive order calling for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, America’s only federal agency for libraries.

The order eliminates agencies that “President has determined are unnecessary.” It calls for the firing of 75 federal workers and rejects funding requests for the nation’s 125,000 public, school, academic, and special libraries.

This is not about “managing efficiency,” “reducing bureaucracy,” or “fiscal responsibility.” Public libraries in the United States use 0.003% of the federal budget for programs and services that support more than 1.2 billion in-person patron visits every year, and many more virtual visits and calls.

Let us be clear: this is about stripping the American people of free speech, literacy, and public access to information.

Pack your books—Silent Book Club is going places in 2025! Join fellow book lovers for thoughtfully curated journeys that combine peaceful reading time with unforgettable adventures.

These intimate group trips are designed for Silent Book Club members who dream of combining their passion for reading with extraordinary travel experiences. Each trip is hosted by an experienced SBC organizer in partnership with a fully-licensed travel partner. 

Whether you're an introvert who loves quiet reading time or someone who lives for deep literary discussions, we're creating the perfect balance of solo and social moments in beautiful destinations.

This fall, we're launching with two trips to Italy and Costa Rica. You can find all of the trip details on the booking site, or read on for highlights!

In 2023, The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) at the Smithsonian launched an incredible summer reading program based on the exhibition, Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures. Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic that stretches across art, music, and literature and weaves together science-fiction, history, and technology to explore the African-American experience.

The Afrofuturism reading guide was written for educators and students, but there is something for everyone on this list: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, music, memoir, comic books, and graphic novels. The featured authors include luminaries like Octavia E. Butler and W.E.B. Du Bois, contemporary authors including Nnedi Okorafor, Marlon James, and N.K. Jemisin, and cultural legends like Janelle Monáe and LeVar Burton.

Sicklerville Silent Book Club hosted their largest meetup along with a donation gathering for the local unhoused community. 

15 writers of dark fantasy who should have been celebrated for their work more than he who wrote the absolutely mediocre American Gods.

We’ve compiled a list of resources to support those impacted: nonprofits, mutual aid, local organizations helping families, businesses, animals, and the region. We'll continue to gather resources and links from our community and will update this page as new information comes through. 

The results of our year-end survey are in, and Silent Book Club readers picked their favorite reads of 2024 (not necessarily published in 2024). Did yours make the list?

Our oracle (AKA Ronan, Silent Book Club Seattle's Assistant Social Media Guy™️) will give you a personalized queer book rec based on the vibe of your favorite Thanksgiving snack.

Join us in person and online to unite against book bans and show the world that the freedom to read is an American value that must be protected.

We have gathered resources to support the people impacted by the storm, and encourage any who can give to donate where we've been told is most helpful from locals.