Banned Books Week, October 1-7, 2023
Banned Books Week, October 1-7, 2023
Stand with Broward County Library in celebrating the freedom to read!
Broward County Library (BCL) is observing Banned Books Week to affirm the value of free, open access to information. It is an annual event, begun in 1982, to raise awareness about challenges and attempts to remove books in schools, bookstores and libraries.
BCL is committed to fighting censorship by promoting and protecting your right to free, open access to information and to think, speak, read and learn freely.
Show your support for intellectual freedom with our free, limited edition “I Read Banned Books” library cards and “I Read Banned Books” buttons, available at any Broward County Library location beginning October 1, 2023. The cards and buttons feature a fiery, bold design with “I Read Banned Books” in the center and proclaim your passion for the freedom to read, collect, protect and lend challenged books.
BCL also promotes and supports access to library materials through Book Sanctuaries, designated areas in all of the library’s branches that protect endangered stories and make them accessible for exploration or check out. They are maintained year-round as part of a national initiative that includes over 2,000 Book Sanctuaries throughout the country.
Additionally, Broward County Library hosts a virtual Book Sanctuary on the library catalog search page featuring books that have been challenged or banned in our state. Customers are also welcome to access Book Sanctuary titles online by using the free Palace Project mobile app.
library with book and pages in a heart
Banned Books Week/Book Sanctuary Events
EVENTS FOR ADULTS
Movie: The Color Purple (1985)
October 2, 4-7PM, Davie/Cooper City Branch, Free/Register
Graphic Novel Book Discussion: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, teens welcome
October 2, 6-7PM, Hollywood Branch, Free/Register
Book Discussion: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
October 3, 6:30-7:30PM, Weston Branch, Free/Register
Book Discussion: 1984 by George Orwell
October 4, 5:30-6:30PM, North Regional/Broward College Library, Free/Register
Stand with the Banned Book Discussion: Out of Darkness by Ashley Perez, teens welcome
October 4, 6-7PM, Sunrise Dan Pearl Branch, Free/Register
Theater Thursday Movie (PG-13) and Book Talk: Call library for title, teens welcome
October 5, 5-7:30PM, Lauderdale Lakes Branch, Free/Register
Movie: Fahrenheit 451 (1966)
October 6, 2:30-4:30PM, Beach Branch, Free/Register
Banned Book Club Book Discussion: Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin
October 9, 6-7PM, Hollywood Branch, Free/Register
Friends of the Library Hispanic Heritage Month/Challenged Books Book Discussion: Call library for title
October 9, 6:30-7:30PM, Lauderhill Towne Centre Branch, Free/Details
Book Discussion: All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
October 11, 1-2PM, Margate Catharine Young Branch, Free/Details
Imperial Point Book Club: Banned books, call library for title
October 17, 1-2PM, Imperial Point Library, Free/Register
Who Put You in Charge of My To-Be-Read (TBR)? Banned Books in Our Community
October 19, 12:30-1:30PM, NSU-Alvin Sherman Library, Details/Register
Book Discussion: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
October 26, 2-3:30PM, West Regional Library, Details/Register
Discussion/Lecture: Book Banning and Protecting the freedom to read
October 26, 2-3PM, Online, Free/Register
Performance: Haunted: How to Tell a Ghost Story: A Book Sanctuary art performance piece by Allison Bolah
October 28, 4-5PM, Main Library, Free/Register
Book Discussion with Lynda Levin: 1984 by George Orwell
October 31, 1:30-3PM, Stirling Road Branch, Free/Register
book open with imaginary sea, horse, child and hot air balloons
EVENTS FOR KIDS & TEENS
Please Don’t Read This! A Banned/Challenged Books StoryWalk: Visit the StoryWalk in the Youth Services area during library hours to read and enjoy Islandborn by Junot Diaz, which was challenged in Duval County, Florida in 2022; ages 3 and up
October 1-31, South Regional/Broward College Library
Teen Banned Books Week Book Discussion: Persepolis (Volume 1) by Marjane Satrapi
October 2, 5-6PM, Southwest Regional Library, Free/Register
Teen Time Banned Books Week Movies (visit link for list of movies)
October 2-6, 2-4:30PM, Southwest Regional Library, Free/Details
Banned Books Week Storytime: Honor the freedom to read with stories, songs and craft; toddlers/preschoolers with caregiver
October 3, 6:30-7:30PM, Lauderhill Towne Centre Branch, Free/Register
Banned/Challenged Books Trivia
Teens and tweens can test their knowledge of the books in the Riverland Library Book Sanctuary.
October 4, 3-4PM, Riverland Branch, Free/Details
Craft: Banned Books Bookmarks
October 4, 6-7PM, Stirling Road Branch, ages 12-18, Free/Details
Banned Books Bingo
October 5, 4-4:30PM, Main Library, Free/Register
Freedom to Read – Kahoot!
Teens compete with their peers on their knowledge of challenged books.
October 6, 4-4:30PM, Northwest Regional Library, Free/Details
Teen Banned Book and Movie Discussion: Call library for title
October 7, 2-4PM, Lauderhill Towne Centre Branch, Free/Register
Harry Potter Banned Book Movie and Discussion: Call library for title; children/families
October 7, 2-5PM, Main Library, Free/Register
Little BIG Readers Storytime: Banned Books Week Special: Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o, ages 3-5
October 9, 10:30-11AM, Southwest Regional Library, Free/Register
Teen Banned Book Discussion: Let’s talk about your favorite banned book along with what books are banned, and why
October 16, 4-5PM, Pembroke Pines/Walter C. Young Resource Center, ages 13-19, Free/Details
youtube video playlist stills
Video Playlist: Banned Book Week
What is Banned Books Week and why is it so important? Explore those questions and some of today’s most banned/challenged titles in this Banned Books Week 2023 playlist.
service announcements
Century Plaza/Leon Slatin Branch Library has added two additional service hours on Mondays and Wednesdays (from 10AM-6PM to 10AM-8PM) to increase access to in-person library services for customers while the nearby Deerfield Beach/Percy White Branch Library is closed for repairs.
Deerfield Beach/Percy White Branch Library is currently closed for structural repairs. Updates will be provided as we work toward reopening the building. We invite to you visit nearby Century Plaza/Leon Slatin, Northwest or Pompano Beach branch libraries for service while this branch is temporarily closed:
Century Plaza/Leon Slatin Branch
1856A W Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, 954-357-7740
Hours: Monday and Wednesday: 10AM-8PM; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 10AM-6PM; Sunday: Closed
Northwest Branch
1580 NW 3rd Ave., Pompano Beach, FL 33060, 954-357-6599
Hours: Monday and Wednesday: Noon-8PM; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 10AM-6PM; Sunday: Closed
Pompano Beach Library & Cultural Center
50 W Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach, FL 33060, 954-357-7595
Hours: Monday and Tuesday: Noon-8PM; Wednesday-Saturday: 10AM-6PM; Sunday: Closed
Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center’s hours will be changing effective October 2, 2023. The new hours will be Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from 10AM-6PM; Thursday, from Noon-8PM. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Imperial Point Branch’s elevator and outdoor book drops are closed for maintenance until further notice. If you are unable to climb stairs, please call the library at 954-357-6530 to schedule curbside pick-up or to request the items be delivered to a different library location.
Search for other library locations via the interactive map of branches throughout Broward County.
