Fight for our right to read
As we celebrate our 10th Anniversary this October, we are also facing a critical challenge to the core founding principle of Silent Book Club: the freedom to choose what we read.
Book banning attempts in the U.S. have reached historic highs. According to data from the American Library Association (ALA), the last two years have brought a drastic, unprecedented increase in the number of censorship attempts targeting libraries and schools nationwide. These efforts primarily target books by and about Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ voices.
When politically-motivated groups remove access to books, they aren't protecting anyone; they are infringing on intellectual freedom and robbing readers of the empathy found in diverse perspectives.
📢 Stand with Us: Join a Read-In, Get a Free Audiobook
Silent Book Club is proud to partner with Libro.fm and 450 local bookstores and libraries to host a series of Banned Books Week Read-Ins October 5, 6, and 7.
This is your chance to turn the act of reading into a visible, peaceful protest against censorship. The goal is simple: to fill bookstores and libraries with silent, reading bodies in a powerful display of unity for intellectual freedom.
As a thank you for your participation, every attendee at a Banned Books Week Read-In will receive a free audiobook from Libro.fm!
See SBC's Banned & Challenged audiobook recommendations on Libro.fm
How to Participate
1. Find a Read-In near you: Use our partner directory to find a participating bookstore or library hosting a Read-In nearby. To confirm event details (date, time, and specific location), please get in touch with the bookshop or library directly.
2. Learn more & spread the word: Visit the official Banned Books Read-In page to learn more and download graphics to help spread the word. Use our Canva templates to make your own bookmarks, buttons, or stickers.
3. Take action: The fight for intellectual freedom needs consistent effort. Whether you join your school board, write letters to your local news outlets, or support grassroots legal organizations, there are plenty of ways you can continue to get involved and fight book bans in your community.
We look forward to reading silently—and protesting loudly—with you during Banned Books Week and beyond.
READ, RISE, RESIST!
Guinevere & Laura