A new part of Banned Books Week, held every year to highlight this perennial problem, is the Internet Read-Out. Several independent bookstores nationwide have signed on and "are planning events where they'll create videos of customers reading from their favorite banned books," Bookselling This Week reported.
Pat Moody of the Hickory Stick Bookshop, Washington Depot, Conn., commented: "Everyone I have spoken to is very excited to participate in our Freedom to Read event."
Chris Finan, president of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, a sponsor of Banned Books Week, said, "In addition to the Tattered Cover Book Store [Denver, Colo.] and other stalwart supporters of Banned Books Week, we have been contacted by stores that are planning their first BBW events."
This year Banned Books Week will be held September 24 to October 1.