Book challenges have been especially aggressive in states within SIBA's territory, so the issue is a priority for booksellers. Many stores are partnering with community groups and local businesses to raise awareness about book banning in their counties and states. A Novel Experience in Zebulon, Georgia, is including a banned book segment in their "Your vote matters" display to encourage people to research before voting.

Beaufort Bookstore in Beaufort, South Carolina noted that, "Our local school district is one of those featured in the upcoming Banned Together documentary due to nearly 100 books being challenged and pulled from school shelves by a small group of parents last year. As the largest independent bookstore in the area, we pride ourselves on keeping our readers aware of challenges and censorship issues, emphasizing the importance of the individual right to decide."

Recognizing the importance of the issue to its member bookstores, SIBA created a Banned Books Week toolkit. More than 60 bookstores downloaded the kit, and areusing it to help enhance their in-store displays and online promotions.

"Blind Book Dates" are a common theme -- where books are wrapped in brown paper with clues about what might be inside. "We are planning to wrap and conceal the identity of each banned book in our store by wrapping it in printed articles about book bans specifically for that title and attaching a library card to each one detailing where it has been banned." (White Rose Books and More in Kissimmee, Florida)

"Boozy Book Fairs" (the grown-up version of the much-loved children's event) with a banned book theme are also popular. Treat Yo Shelf Books in Mountain Home, Arkansas believes in having the best of both worlds and is hosting Banned Books Boozy Book Fair with blind date books.

Other things happening at SIBA stores:

• Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama is using Banned Books as their Reading Challenge theme.
• Bookends Literature & Libations coming to Ybor City, Florida is partnering with Gasparilla Distillery to host a banned book bingo night and blind date with a banned book.
• Story & Song Bookstore and Bistro in Fernandina Beach, Florida is hosting a staged reading with middle-grade and high school kids reading pieces from books that have been banned or challenged in Florida.
• Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina has partnered with Davidson College to provide books at a talk ("The Power of the Book: What Books Can and Cannot Do to Readers") and a Silent Reading Party on campus.
• Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana will be holding a promotion with Amanda Jones (That Librarian) about censorship.
• Fern & Fable Books in Ormond Beach, Florida is working with a local nonprofit group to give out free books to students and to keep their free banned book library stocked.
• Scuppernong Books in Greenville, North Carolina is doing street readings of banned books.
• The Bottom in Knoxville, Tennessee is launching a new Banned Books Book Club.
• The Book Worm Book Store in Powder Springs, Georgia will have customers join them in putting together a banned books puzzle. "Whether it is one piece or 10, as a community learn about some of the books that have been banned or challenged."
• Spelled Ink in Orange, Virginia has a host of planned games, such as Banned Book Bingo, Spin-A-Date with a Banned Book, Banned Book themed scavenger hunt, Pin the Challenge on the Banned Book, and Guess Which of These Was Banned.

Get your SIBA Banned Books Week Toolkit