How to Organize Banned Books Week Events in Jacksonville

Banned Books Week is an annual national celebration of the freedom to read, organized by the American Library Association (ALA) and supported by publishers, booksellers, librarians, educators, and readers across the United States. Held during the last week of September, it shines a spotlight on books that have been challenged or banned in schools, libraries, and communities. In Jacksonville, Florida—a city with a rich cultural tapestry and a growing commitment to intellectual freedom—Banned Books Week has become an increasingly vital platform for dialogue, education, and community engagement.

While many cities host established Banned Books Week programs, Jacksonville’s events are still evolving. Local organizers, educators, librarians, and advocates are working to build a movement that reflects the city’s diverse population and addresses the rising tide of book challenges in Florida public schools and libraries. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step roadmap for planning, executing, and sustaining meaningful Banned Books Week events in Jacksonville. Whether you’re a librarian, teacher, parent, student, or community activist, this tutorial will equip you with the tools and strategies to make an impact.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Understand the Context of Book Challenges in Jacksonville

Before planning any event, it’s essential to understand the local landscape. Florida has led the nation in book challenges in recent years, with many titles targeting themes of race, gender identity, sexuality, and historical truth. In Jacksonville, schools and public libraries have seen increasing pressure to remove books such as “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe, “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson, and “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas.

Review the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s annual challenge reports, check local news archives (like the Jacksonville Times-Union), and consult the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) database. Identify which books have been challenged locally, which institutions are most affected, and which communities are most vocal. This context will help you tailor your events to address real concerns and resonate with local audiences.

Step 2: Assemble a Planning Team

Organizing successful events requires collaboration. Recruit a diverse team of at least five to seven individuals representing different sectors:

• Public library staff (Jacksonville Public Library branches)
• Public school teachers and librarians
• Local authors and poets
• College professors (University of North Florida, Florida State College at Jacksonville)
• Community organizers from NAACP, ACLU Florida, or LGBTQ+ advocacy groups
• Students from high schools and universities
• Local booksellers (e.g., The Book Cellar, Barnes & Noble Jacksonville)

Assign clear roles: event coordinator, communications lead, logistics manager, volunteer coordinator, and social media handler. Hold your first planning meeting at a neutral, accessible location like the Main Library downtown or a community center in Arlington.

Step 3: Define Your Goals and Audience

Every successful campaign starts with clear objectives. Ask yourself:

• Do you want to raise awareness about censorship?
• Are you aiming to encourage public dialogue?
• Do you want to mobilize voters or influence school board policy?
• Are you targeting students, parents, educators, or the general public?

For Jacksonville, a multi-tiered approach works best. Design events for different audiences:

• Students: Classroom read-ins, book discussions, zine-making workshops
• Parents: Panel discussions on “Why We Read Banned Books”
• Educators: Professional development workshops on intellectual freedom
• General Public: Outdoor readings, art exhibits, author signings

Set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. Example: “Host five public readings across four Jacksonville neighborhoods during Banned Books Week, reaching at least 500 attendees.”

Step 4: Secure Venues and Permissions

Jacksonville offers a variety of public and semi-public spaces ideal for events:

• Jacksonville Public Library branches: Main Library, West Branch, South Branch, and others offer free meeting rooms and event support.
• Community centers: Arlington Community Center, LaVilla Cultural Center, and others provide accessible, centrally located venues.
• Bookstores: The Book Cellar and Barnes & Noble often host literary events and may sponsor or co-host.
• Outdoor spaces: Hemming Park, the St. Johns Riverwalk, and local parks can be used for readings and art displays with city permits.
• Schools: With administrator approval, high schools can host student-led events during lunch or after school.

Contact each venue at least six weeks in advance. Submit formal requests, including date, time, expected attendance, and any equipment needs (projectors, microphones, tables). Be prepared to provide liability waivers if required. Many public venues waive fees for nonprofit educational events.

Step 5: Plan Your Event Calendar

Spread your events across the week to maximize reach. Below is a sample 7-day schedule for Jacksonville:

• Monday: “Banned Books 101” Workshop at Main Library – for educators and parents
• Tuesday: Student Read-In at Robert E. Lee High School – students read aloud from challenged books in the cafeteria
• Wednesday: “Voices of the River” Poetry Slam at Hemming Park – featuring local poets reading banned or censored poems
• Thursday: Author Talk with Dr. Lisa Delpit – UF professor and author of “Other People’s Children”
• Friday: Book Bazaar at The Book Cellar – discounted copies of challenged titles, with proceeds supporting the Florida Library Association
• Saturday: Family Storytime & Art Exhibit at South Branch Library – children create art inspired by banned books
• Sunday: Interfaith Panel on Freedom to Read – hosted by local churches and synagogues

Each event should last 60–90 minutes to allow for discussion. Schedule events during evenings or weekends to maximize attendance. Use Google Calendar or Airtable to coordinate and share the calendar publicly.

Step 6: Promote Your Events

Promotion is critical. Use a multi-channel strategy:

• Social Media: Create a hashtag like

  BannedBooksJAX or #ReadFreeJAX. Post daily on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Use short videos of students reading banned passages, quotes from challenged books, and behind-the-scenes prep.

• Local Media: Send press releases to the Jacksonville Times-Union, WJCT News, and 90.9 FM. Pitch human-interest stories: “Why a Jacksonville Teacher Risked Her Job to Teach ‘The Bluest Eye’.”
• Community Bulletin Boards: Post flyers at libraries, coffee shops, community centers, and places of worship.
• Email Lists: Partner with the Jacksonville Education Association, NAACP Jacksonville, and the Florida Writers Association to distribute event calendars.
• Radio and Podcasts: Pitch interviews to local podcasts like “The Florida Book Review” or “The Jacksonville Story.”

Use Canva to design eye-catching graphics. Include event dates, locations, QR codes linking to registration pages, and images of book covers. Always include the official Banned Books Week logo from the ALA.

Step 7: Engage the Community Through Participation

Don’t just host events—invite participation. Create interactive elements:

• “Read a Banned Book” Challenge: Distribute reading logs at libraries. Participants who complete three books receive a free tote bag or bookmark.
• “Why I Read This Book” Wall: Set up a physical or digital board where people write why a banned book mattered to them. Use Padlet for digital submissions.
• Student Art Contest: Invite middle and high school students to create posters, poems, or short films about censorship. Display winners at the Main Library.
• Book Drive: Collect copies of challenged books to donate to underserved schools or incarcerated youth programs.

These activities transform passive audiences into active participants. They also generate content for future advocacy efforts.

Step 8: Document and Evaluate

Document everything. Assign a volunteer to take photos, record audio snippets, and collect testimonials. After the week ends, send out a short survey via Google Forms asking attendees:

• What event did you attend and why?
• Did you learn something new about book censorship?
• Will you take action (e.g., attend a school board meeting, donate, read another banned book)?
• What could we improve next year?

Compile results into a one-page report. Share it with your team, local media, and school board members. Use data to show impact: “Over 800 attendees across 7 events. 72% said they now understand why banned books are important.”

Step 9: Sustain Momentum Beyond One Week

Banned Books Week is a spark—not the fire. To create lasting change:

• Establish a “Freedom to Read” committee at your library or school.
• Host quarterly “Censorship & Community” forums.
• Create a reading list of challenged books for public schools to adopt voluntarily.
• Advocate for a Jacksonville City Council resolution affirming the right to read.
• Partner with the Florida Association of Media Professionals to train librarians on how to respond to book challenges.

Consider launching a “Banned Books Month” in October to extend the conversation. The goal is to normalize the discussion of censorship as a civic issue—not a partisan one.

Step 10: Navigate Legal and Political Risks

Organizing events around banned books can attract opposition. Be prepared:

• Know Florida Statute 1001.42, which governs school library materials. Understand that while districts can challenge books, they cannot remove them without a formal review process.
• Do not use school property for political advocacy unless permitted. Keep events educational, not partisan.
• Train volunteers on how to respond to hostile questions. Use phrases like: “We’re not here to argue about content—we’re here to defend the right to choose what to read.”
• Consult the ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Manual or contact the Freedom to Read Foundation for legal guidance.

Always operate with transparency. Publicize your event goals, funding sources, and partnerships. This builds trust and reduces the risk of being labeled “ideological.”

Best Practices

1. Center Marginalized Voices

Many banned books are written by authors of color, LGBTQ+ writers, or disabled creators. Prioritize their voices. Invite them to speak, read their work, and highlight their contributions. Avoid tokenism—build authentic relationships with these communities year-round.

2. Make Events Accessible

Ensure all venues are ADA-compliant. Provide ASL interpreters for key events. Offer materials in Spanish and Haitian Creole, reflecting Jacksonville’s linguistic diversity. Host virtual livestreams for those unable to attend in person.

3. Avoid Confrontational Language

Frame your message around freedom, not conflict. Use phrases like “the right to choose,” “diverse perspectives,” and “intellectual curiosity.” Avoid labeling opponents as “censoring” or “bigoted.” Focus on shared values: education, empathy, critical thinking.

4. Partner Strategically

Collaborate with institutions that have credibility: churches, universities, museums, and civic clubs. Their endorsement helps neutralize accusations of political bias.

5. Emphasize Student Agency

Let students lead. When teens organize a read-in or write a letter to the school board, their voices carry more weight than adult activists. Empower them to speak for themselves.

6. Use Books as Entry Points, Not Endpoints

Reading “Lawn Boy” by Jonathan Evison is powerful—but the real goal is to spark conversation about masculinity, class, and identity. Design each event to lead to deeper dialogue, not just consumption.

7. Celebrate, Don’t Just Protest

Banned Books Week is not a protest—it’s a celebration of ideas. Include music, food, art, and joy. A reading under the stars with hot cocoa and poetry is more memorable than a rally with signs.

8. Track Your Impact

Measure attendance, media coverage, social media reach, and policy changes. Use this data to secure future funding and partnerships.

9. Be Consistent

One week a year isn’t enough. Commit to annual events, and build on them each year. Over time, Banned Books Week in Jacksonville can become a cultural tradition.

10. Stay United

Disagreements will arise. Stay focused on the mission: protecting the freedom to read. Avoid internal divisions over tactics. Unity is your greatest strength.

Tools and Resources

Official Resources

• American Library Association – Banned Books Week: www.ala.org/bbooks – Download official logos, toolkits, reading lists, and press materials.
• Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF): www.ala.org/oif – Track national and state-level challenges; report local incidents.
• Freedom to Read Foundation: www.ftrf.org – Legal support and advocacy resources.
• Florida Library Association – Intellectual Freedom Committee: Contact for state-specific guidance and funding opportunities.

Reading Lists

• Top 10 Most Challenged Books in Florida (2023): Available on ALA’s website. Includes “Gender Queer,” “Lawn Boy,” “The Bluest Eye,” “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” and “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You.”
• Jacksonville-Specific Banned Books List: Compiled by local librarians and available at the Main Library’s Reference Desk or online via JaxLibrary.org.
• “Books That Shaped Jacksonville” Reading List: A curated list of books by Florida authors or set in Jacksonville, including “The Neon Rain” by James Lee Burke and “The Story of My Life” by Helen Keller (who visited Jacksonville in 1912).

Design and Promotion Tools

• Canva: Free templates for posters, social media graphics, and flyers.
• Mailchimp: Free email marketing for nonprofit groups.
• Google Forms: For surveys, registration, and feedback collection.
• Padlet: For digital “Why I Read This Book” walls.
• Canva Video: For creating 30-second promotional clips.

Community Partners

• NAACP Jacksonville: Strong ally on racial justice and education equity.
• ACLU of Florida: Legal resources and advocacy support.
• Florida Writers Association: Connect with local authors.
• University of North Florida – English and Education Departments: Academic partnerships and student volunteers.
• The Book Cellar: Local independent bookstore that hosts events and offers discounts.
• Jacksonville Public Library: Primary partner for venues, promotion, and logistics.

Funding and Grants

• ALA Banned Books Week Grants: Up to $1,000 for local events.
• Florida Humanities Council: Supports community dialogue projects.
• Local Foundations: The Jacksonville Community Council Inc. (JCCI) and the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens sometimes fund cultural programming.

Real Examples

Example 1: Robert E. Lee High School Read-In, 2023

In September 2023, a group of 11th-grade students at Robert E. Lee High School organized a lunchtime read-in in the cafeteria. They selected “The Hate U Give” and “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson—both challenged in Duval County schools. Students took turns reading aloud for 30 minutes, while teachers quietly distributed bookmarks with quotes from the books.

One student, 17-year-old Maya Johnson, said: “I read ‘Speak’ last year. It helped me understand my own silence after my mom left. If they ban it, they’re telling kids like me we don’t matter.”

The event went viral on TikTok. Over 2,000 views in 48 hours. The school board received 147 emails in support. The principal, initially hesitant, later praised the students’ “civic courage.”

Example 2: “Voices of the River” Poetry Slam, Hemming Park

Organized by the Jacksonville Poetry Society and the ACLU, this free outdoor event featured 12 local poets reading works that had been removed from school curricula—including poems by Audre Lorde, Ocean Vuong, and Rita Dove.

Attendees brought blankets and snacks. A local jazz trio played between readings. One attendee, 72-year-old Margaret Ellis, said: “I’ve lived here 50 years. I’ve seen books banned before. But this? This felt like the first time we said ‘no’ together.”

The event was covered by WJCT and featured in the Times-Union’s “Community Voices” section. It became an annual tradition.

Example 3: The Book Cellar’s “Banned Books Bazaar”

The Book Cellar, a beloved independent bookstore in Riverside, transformed one Saturday into a pop-up shop for challenged titles. They offered 30% off all banned books and hosted a Q&A with author Dr. Kiese Laymon (author of “Heavy”), who joined virtually.

They also launched a “Buy One, Give One” campaign: for every book sold, one was donated to a local juvenile detention center. Over 200 books were distributed in one day.

Owner Rachel Nguyen said: “We’re not selling books. We’re selling the idea that reading is an act of resistance.”

Example 4: Interfaith Panel on Freedom to Read

For the first time in 2023, a Sunday panel brought together a rabbi, a pastor, an imam, and a Buddhist monk to discuss “Why Reading Matters in Faith Communities.”

They read passages from the Bible, Quran, and Talmud that had been challenged elsewhere—and explained why their traditions value questioning and interpretation.

The event drew 180 attendees. No one left angry. Many said they’d never considered reading as a spiritual practice.

FAQs

Can I get in trouble for organizing a Banned Books Week event in Jacksonville?

As long as you operate within public space guidelines and avoid using school resources for political advocacy, you are protected under the First Amendment. Public libraries and community centers are neutral venues. If you’re a public employee, avoid using your official title in promotional materials unless explicitly permitted. Consult the ALA’s legal resources if you receive threats or pressure.

What if the school board tries to shut down our event?

Public schools cannot legally prohibit students from organizing non-disruptive, non-commercial events during non-instructional time. If your event is held off-campus (e.g., at a library or bookstore), the school board has no authority over it. Document any threats or interference. Contact the ACLU of Florida for support.

Do I need permission to read banned books aloud in public?

No. Reading a book aloud in a public park or library is protected speech. You do not need permission to quote or read from a book, even if it’s been challenged. However, if you’re using copyrighted material in a commercial context (e.g., selling recordings), you may need to secure rights. For educational and nonprofit events, fair use applies.

How do I respond to people who say, “Why read books with offensive language?”

Focus on context: “We don’t read books to endorse every word. We read to understand different experiences. If we only read books that make us comfortable, we stop growing. The question isn’t ‘Is this book offensive?’ It’s ‘Who gets to decide what others can read?’”

Can I include religious texts in my Banned Books Week events?

Yes. Many religious texts have been challenged for their content. Including them demonstrates that censorship isn’t about one ideology—it’s about power. Be respectful, and frame it as “texts that have been questioned in schools or libraries.”

How do I get local media to cover my event?

Send a press release at least two weeks in advance. Include a compelling human angle: a student’s story, a parent’s concern, a teacher’s experience. Offer interviews. Follow up with a phone call. Local journalists want stories about community courage.

What if no one shows up?

Start small. One person reading a banned book in a park is still an act of defiance. Document it. Share it online. Momentum builds. Your first event might have 12 people. Your fifth might have 500. Consistency matters more than scale.

How can I involve my child’s school without causing conflict?

Work with the school librarian or media specialist. Offer to host a classroom reading session during library time. Provide copies of the book for the school library. Frame it as “expanding access to diverse perspectives,” not “challenging policy.”

Conclusion

Banned Books Week in Jacksonville is more than a series of events—it’s a movement to reclaim the right to think, question, and imagine. In a time when books are being removed from shelves under political pressure, organizing these events is an act of quiet, powerful resistance. It’s not about choosing sides. It’s about choosing the freedom to learn.

The stories in banned books are not abstract. They are the stories of students who feel unseen. Of families who struggle to be understood. Of histories that have been buried. By hosting a reading, organizing a discussion, or simply sharing a book with a friend, you become part of a legacy that stretches from Maya Angelou to George M. Johnson to every child who dares to ask, “Why can’t I read this?”

Start small. Be consistent. Build community. Let the books speak. And remember: the most dangerous thing a censor fears is not a protest—but a reader.

Join us this September. Read a banned book. Speak up. Make Jacksonville a city that chooses curiosity over fear.