Originally published by Shelf Awareness.
Banned Books Week: Tours, Toolkit, Seminar, a Parade
Coinciding with Banned Books Week, which begins this Sunday, October 1, the New Republic will launch the Banned Books Tour 2023 , aimed at "championing the First Amendment and combating censorship." The bookmobile, a symbol of literary liberation, will visit states that have experienced some of the highest incidences of book censorship, including Texas, Florida, Missouri, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, and continue to operate through the month of October.
The tour will start at the Brooklyn Book Festival this weekend, where, in partnership with House of SpeakEasy, the New Republic will accept book and financial donations at the SpeakEasy Bookmobile. All literature may be donated, with a preference for banned and challenged books. These books will be given away in communities on the tour where access has been restricted or limited.
Partners for the tour include the American Federation of Teachers/Real Solutions for Kids and Communities and the African American Policy Forum . The tour is supported by contributions from novelist Nora Roberts (she writes about how important the freedom to read is below) and produced by Inspira Marketing.
"Launching a book festival on wheels is a huge new undertaking for us, and I can't wait to hit the road to support the importance of reading, New Republic CEO and publisher Michael Caruso said. "It's even more exciting that we can embark in time to support ALA's Banned Books Week. The New Republic has been a leading defender of the First Amendment for over a century, and this is a new way to give people the tools to join the fight for the freedom to read."
Amanda Foreman, co-founder of the House of SpeakEasy, said, "House of SpeakEasy believes that book ownership is a right not a privilege and access to literature should not be restricted. Since we launched it 2017, the SpeakEasy Bookmobile has visited over two dozen towns and cities across 15 states. We are thrilled with the opportunity to play a role in the 2023 Banned Books Tour."