his year, the American Library Association invites us to celebrate Banned Books Week with the 2026 theme: “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.”

Books introduce us to new ideas, help us understand experiences beyond our own, spark creativity, and sometimes simply bring us joy. But the freedom to discover those books depends on our ability to access them. Banned Books Week is an opportunity to celebrate reading while recognizing the continued importance of protecting our freedom to choose what we read.

Join the University Libraries for a celebration of books, intellectual freedom, and the freedom to read!

Event highlights include:

• Interactive Whiteboards: Share your thoughts about book bans, censorship, and the freedom to read—and see what other members of the UAlbany community have to say.
• Take Action Resources: Pick up practical tools, guides, and information about supporting intellectual freedom and speaking out against censorship.
• Zine Creation Station: Get creative with words, drawings, and collage to make your own mini-publication celebrating books, ideas, and self-expression.
• Learn About Banned Books Week: Discover the history of Banned Books Week, explore frequently challenged titles, and learn why protecting access to books continues to matter.
• Banned Books Trivia Wheel: Spin the wheel and test your knowledge of banned and challenged books for the chance to snag a prize!
• Library Resources Showcase: Explore the collections, databases, research tools, and other resources available to you through the University Libraries.
• Meet Library Ambassadors: Chat with our Library Ambassadors and learn more about the resources, spaces, programs, and people that make the Libraries a place for everyone.

Whether you come to learn about censorship, discover your next read, make a zine, test your banned-books knowledge, or simply celebrate the joy of reading, there’s a place for you here.