Read GFWC's Call to Action for Banned Books Week »

Celebrating Freedom: GFWC Marks Banned Books Week and Promotes Legacy of Literacy

October 2, 2007

GFWC'S CALL TO ACTION

»Educate Yourself

• Study the issues
• Read GFWC resolutions on literacy and support for libraries, freedom of information, and enforcement of confidentiality laws
• Learn about the Freedom of Information Act
• Find out about your legislators' voting records on freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights
• Re-read one of your favorite books. Chances are, it's on the list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000

»Inform Others

• Educate others about the importance of intellectual freedom and the critical role that libraries play
• Club Manual-Education Department, Literacy: Program provides information on tutoring activities and resources available in their communities.
• Sign up for a library card and share the 52 ways to use it with others!
• Join or organize a book group that reads banned or challenged books.

»Create Change

• Find and participate in a Banned Books Week event near you
• Organize your own Banned Books Read-Out! at your school, public library, or favorite bookstore
• Support the role of libraries in preserving intellectual freedom
• Contact your legislators immediately and ask them to support the SKILLs Act, which ensures that a school library in every school, staffed by a state-certified school library media specialist. Use GFWC's Public Policy Manual: A Guide to Legislation & Advocacy, to learn the how-to's of advocacy
• Adopt a local library; use GFWC's program outline to get started

»Links and Resources

• American Library Association
• Bill of Rights Defense Committee 
• Citzens Internet Empowering Coalition
• kidSpeak
• National Coalition Against Censorship

No matter how you choose to commemorate Banned Books Week, remember to report your activities to GFWC.