Celebrate The Freedom to Read at Shalhoob’s in the Funk Zone

Celebrate the freedom to read with Santa Barbara Public Library and the Library on the GO!

In celebration of intellectual freedom, SBPL will be distributing free copies of frequently challenged books at pop up Library on the Go van stops throughout the community and at special events at Central Library.

Throughout the country, we’ve seen an increase in challenges to materials in libraries. To raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship, SBPL is giving away books that have been challenged, from beloved classics like The Color Purple by Alice Walker and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison to childhood favorites like Harriet the Spy and Judy Blume, to recent books that explore race, gender, and sexuality like How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi and All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson. Multiple copies of over 250 unique titles have been selected to represent the broad range of titles and subjects that have been targeted by censorship efforts. This project was funded through an anonymous private donation.

Disclaimer(s):

Participants in this event may be photographed by Library staff. These photos may be used in promotional or educational publications, including in print, social media, and presentations. Please see staff if you do not consent to having your photo taken. Staff will obtain individual, signed photo releases of photographs that contain only an individual as opposed to a group.

In case of inclement weather, outdoor activities may be canceled. For the most up to date information, please contact the library with any questions or concerns before traveling to library events.