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Since its inaugural year in 1982, Banned Books Week has been about the librarian, educator, and publishing communities coming together to educate the public about book ­banning attempts. In the recent surge of censorship attempts, the week has also become a launching point for ­action to combat book bans.

Banned Books Week 2025 is ­October 5–11, with the final day designated as Let Freedom Read Day, when people are asked to take one ­action “to help defend books from censorship and to stand up for the library staff, educators, writers, publishers, and booksellers who make them available.” Suggestions for action include: call school or library administrators and local elected representatives; support an advocacy organization; write a letter or email to a school or library board in support of access, intellectual freedom, and library staff; make a plan to attend a school or library board meeting; and/or buy or check out a book that has been banned.

BannedBooksWeek.org offers ­resources and promotional tools. Here are some other resources for librarians and their fellow educators looking to mark the week in big or small ways, educate students and patrons, and ­defend intellectual freedom:

Educator handbook. The Free ­Expression Educators Handbook from the ­National ­Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) created in ­collaboration with the National Council of Teachers of English, ­contains tools and advice for ­managing book challenges and ­censorship ­controversies in schools and school libraries.

Right To Read Night. NCAC is ­asking libraries, bookstores, and ­community members to host a Right To Read Night where readers will discuss the organization’s featured banned book, Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. A media kit and discussion questions can be found at ­RightToReadNight.com.

Book résumés. Unite Against Book Bans’ (UABB) book résumés are free, downloadable documents to help defend against book challenges and ­censorship attempts and ­support ­access. Each résumé contains a ­synopsis of the book, reviews, awards it has won, and links to relevant ­resources and media about the title. They are created by UABB partners and publishers.

UABB toolkit. UABB also provides a ­toolkit that includes talking points about book bans; social media tools; and ways to contact media, school and library board members, and local and state legislators—and what to say when you do.

Book displays. One way to educate students and library ­patrons about the attacks on books and the titles being targeted is with book displays. The American Library ­Association shares ideas from school, public, and ­academic libraries. A Pinterest page shares even more ideas: .

Any educator experiencing a book ban or censorship attempt should report it to PEN America.