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Statement on Book Bans

We strongly believe that the unfettered exchange of ideas is essential to the preservation of a free and democratic society, and we are committed to programming banned books and authors during Banned Books Week and year round.

Folio champions and defends “the freedom to speak, the freedom to publish, and the freedom to read, as promised by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.”

 

Along with The American Library Association, Folio stands “opposed to censorship and any effort to coerce belief, suppress opinion, or punish those whose expression does not conform to what is deemed orthodox in history, politics, or belief.”

Celebrate this years Banned Books Week at Folio with a curated selection of programs that address the book challenges we are facing at this time. The theme this year is Let Freedom Read.

Banned Books Week 2024

  • Words on Fire! Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Book Censorship
    Words on Fire! Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Book Censorship
    RSVP Closed
    Sat, Nov 02
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum
    Nov 02, 2024, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
    Nov 02, 2024, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
    A full day event
    Share
  • Publishers and Citizens Fighting Book Bans
    Publishers and Citizens Fighting Book Bans
    Sold Out
    Thu, Sep 26
    Online via Zoom
    Sep 26, 2024, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM PDT
    Online via Zoom
    Sep 26, 2024, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM PDT
    Online via Zoom
    A panel discussions moderated by Folio Librarian Lillian Dabney
    Share
  • Banned Books Reading and Happy Hour
    Banned Books Reading and Happy Hour
    Sold Out
    Tue, Sep 24
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum
    Sep 24, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
    Sep 24, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
    Share
  • The Impact of Book Bans on Public Libraries with Tom Fay
    The Impact of Book Bans on Public Libraries with Tom Fay
    Sold Out
    Mon, Sep 23
    Online via Zoom
    Sep 23, 2024, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT
    Online via Zoom
    Sep 23, 2024, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT
    Online via Zoom
    Seattle Public Library Chief Librarian Tom Fay in conversation with Folio librarian Lillian Dabney
    Share
  • Folio Fiction Discussion Group: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
    Folio Fiction Discussion Group: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
    Multiple Dates
    Wed, Sep 11
    Online via Zoom
    Sep 11, 2024, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    Online via Zoom
    Sep 11, 2024, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    Online via Zoom
    This title is part of Folio's Fiction Discussion series. To view upcoming titles in this series click "Select Different Date" below.
    Share
  • 400 Years Of Racism Book Discussion: The Bluest Eye
    400 Years Of Racism Book Discussion: The Bluest Eye
    Multiple Dates
    Tue, Sep 03
    Online via Zoom
    Sep 03, 2024, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM PDT
    Online via Zoom
    Sep 03, 2024, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM PDT
    Online via Zoom
    Share

Past Banned Books Programs

  • Words on Fire! Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Book Censorship
    Words on Fire! Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Book Censorship
    RSVP Closed
    Sat, Nov 02
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum
    Nov 02, 2024, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
    Nov 02, 2024, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
    A full day event
    Share
  • Publishers and Citizens Fighting Book Bans
    Publishers and Citizens Fighting Book Bans
    Sold Out
    Thu, Sep 26
    Online via Zoom
    Sep 26, 2024, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM PDT
    Online via Zoom
    Sep 26, 2024, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM PDT
    Online via Zoom
    A panel discussions moderated by Folio Librarian Lillian Dabney
    Share
  • Banned Books Reading and Happy Hour
    Banned Books Reading and Happy Hour
    Sold Out
    Tue, Sep 24
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum
    Sep 24, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
    Sep 24, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
    Share
  • The Impact of Book Bans on Public Libraries with Tom Fay
    The Impact of Book Bans on Public Libraries with Tom Fay
    Sold Out
    Mon, Sep 23
    Online via Zoom
    Sep 23, 2024, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT
    Online via Zoom
    Sep 23, 2024, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT
    Online via Zoom
    Seattle Public Library Chief Librarian Tom Fay in conversation with Folio librarian Lillian Dabney
    Share
  • Freedom to Read with Sabrina Baêta
    Freedom to Read with Sabrina Baêta
    RSVP Closed
    Fri, Oct 06
    Online via Zoom
    Oct 06, 2023, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM PDT
    Online via Zoom
    Oct 06, 2023, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM PDT
    Online via Zoom
    Share
  • Book Bans in America with Deb Sica
    Book Bans in America with Deb Sica
    RSVP Closed
    Mon, Oct 02
    Online via Zoom
    Oct 02, 2023, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM PDT
    Online via Zoom
    Oct 02, 2023, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM PDT
    Online via Zoom
    Share
  • Censorship in Washington State with Roxana Gomez
    Censorship in Washington State with Roxana Gomez
    RSVP Closed
    Mon, Oct 02
    Online via Zoom
    Oct 02, 2023, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
    Online via Zoom
    Oct 02, 2023, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
    Online via Zoom
    Share
  • Felice Picano presents SIX STRANGE STORIES: and “H.P. Lovecraft and Time”
    Felice Picano presents SIX STRANGE STORIES: and “H.P. Lovecraft and Time”
    RSVP Closed
    Fri, Sep 22
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum
    Sep 22, 2023, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
    Sep 22, 2023, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
    Share
  • How to Get Banned: An LGBTQ Author Panel
    How to Get Banned: An LGBTQ Author Panel
    RSVP Closed
    Thu, Sep 21
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum
    Sep 21, 2023, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
    Sep 21, 2023, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
    Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
    Share
  • Banned: Censorship and Intellectual Freedom
    Banned: Censorship and Intellectual Freedom
    RSVP Closed
    Mon, Sep 19
    Online via Zoom
    Sep 19, 2022, 7:00 PM
    Online via Zoom
    Sep 19, 2022, 7:00 PM
    Online via Zoom
    Share
  • The United States vs. Ulysses
    The United States vs. Ulysses
    RSVP Closed
    Thu, Jun 16
    Online via Zoom
    Jun 16, 2022, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    Online via Zoom
    Jun 16, 2022, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    Online via Zoom
    Share
  • An Evening with Hamid Ismailov
    An Evening with Hamid Ismailov
    RSVP Closed
    Fri, Apr 15
    Seattle
    Apr 15, 2022, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM PDT
    Seattle, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
    Apr 15, 2022, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM PDT
    Seattle, 93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
    Share
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Banned Books Fund

Support our banned books programs with a tax deductible donation. Donations made through this fund are dedicated to banned books programs.

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