New Canaan Library Celebrates Banned Books Week 2026 Emmy Award-Winning Documentary The Librarians a

New Canaan Library celebrates Banned Books Week, October 4–10, with a featured display of challenged books and programs exploring the importance of the freedom to read and access to a wide range of books, ideas, and perspectives. 

The Library will highlight this year’s theme with a special screening of The Librarians on Monday, October 12, at 6:30 p.m. Directed by Kim A. Snyder, the Emmy Award-winning documentary follows librarians across the country who risked their reputations, their jobs, and even their safety to defend their communities' freedom to read.

Bestselling author Will Schwalbe will also join the Library for The Need to Read on Wednesday, October 7, at 7:00 p.m. Schwalbe will explore how reading can connect us, broaden our perspectives, and deepen our understanding of one another.

The Library’s featured challenged book display, created by Assistant Manager of Reference & Instruction Kassidy Wynne, offers another way for readers to explore the Banned Books Week theme. You might see some of your favorite books and learn why they’ve been challenged in other places. You can also pick up a list of the 10 most challenged books from last year and a Banned Books Week bookmark.

Banned Books Week is a nationwide initiative created by the American Library Association (ALA) to highlight the freedom to read and raise awareness about attempts to restrict access to books. This year’s theme, “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read,” speaks directly to the work of librarians who help ensure that readers can discover books and information for themselves.