Off the Shelf: Banned Books Week
By Angela Spatafore on October 07, 2026 from Off the Shelf
October 4-10 is Banned Books Week!
This year's theme is Let Books Be: Protect Our Freedom to Read, and the library is celebrating our freedom to read with a spirit week, reading challenge, and new library card design.
Banned Books Week started in 1982 to fight back against censorship.
The American Library Association monitors book challenges across the country and releases annual statistics ahead of Banned Books Week.
To learn more, we encourage you to visit: https://www.ala.org/bbooks
Join the Let Books Be reading challenge at bplwv.beanstack.org! The challenge runs through Saturday, October 10.
Log your minutes, write book reviews, and learn more about Banned Book Week to earn badges and complete the challenge.
On Monday, we released a brand-new library card design with official art by the artist, Lovels Wise.
We are waiving the replacement card fee through Saturday, October 10 for anyone who wants to upgrade their library card to the new design.
The new cards come with a standard card and a small card you can put on a keychain. The library cards will only be available while supplies last.
Library staff are dressing up on select days this week to celebrate. On Monday, staff dressed in their best red, white, and blue in celebration of our freedom to read.
On Wednesday, we are dressing as banned book characters.
Finally, on Friday, we are wearing our favorite band tees or dressing as our favorite musicians to "band" against book bans.
You can see and vote for staff costumes at the library or on the library's Facebook page.
