Banned Books Week


Deadline extended! Entries are now due on August 8.

Banned Books Trading Cards

Banned Books Week is an annual, national celebration of your freedom to read. Chapel Hill Public Library, in partnership with Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture, celebrates by asking local artists to create original works of art inspired by a banned book or author whose work has been challenged.

Each piece represents the ongoing struggle for intellectual freedom and the dangers of censorship.

You can collect a free set of Banned Books Trading Cards by visiting the library during Banned Books Week, September 18-24, 2022.

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Upcoming Banned Books Week 2022 Events
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Upcoming Banned Books Week 2022 Events
Banned Books Trading Cards Exhibit Gallery

Saturday, September 17th  through Friday, September 30

Visit Meeting Room A between September 17th and September 30th during library open hours to see a display of Banned Books Trading Cards 2022 submissions and large format displays of winning entries from past years. Pick up your set of trading cards and participate in an interactive display on the theme, “Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us.”

Banned Books Community Read Aloud

Thursday, September 29th at 7 pm in Chapel Hill Public Library Meeting Room A

As part of Banned Books Week, we've invited community guests to read excerpts from favorite children's books that have recently been banned or challenged to “see what all the fuss is about.” All ages are welcome.

Open Artist Call 2022

The call for artwork for Banned Books Trading Cards 2022 is now open. Help us celebrate the freedom to read.
In conjunction with Banned Books Week, we're looking for original artworks on paper, inspired by books or authors that have been challenged, censored, or banned.

All entries will be displayed at the library during Banned Books Week. Seven works will be selected to be printed as trading cards. Selected entries will also receive $100 and a poster-sized print of their work. Learn more about eligibility and submission requirements at the link below.

Entries are due August 8.


Download a submission form

Submission Details

  • Artists may submit up to three different works of art
  • All work must be submitted on paper, even if created electronically
  • All submissions must measure 5 inches wide by 7 tall inches (no horizontal artwork accepted) and have a ¼ inch margin on all sides. Here's how that looks.
  • Each submission must be accompanied by a complete submission form
  • Original artwork will be returned to the artist unless the piece is selected to be a trading card. Selected entries will be auctioned to support the non-profit Friends of Chapel Hill Public Library

To submit your work in the contest, bring the final physical hard copy and the accompanying paperwork to any service desk at the library, or mail entries to Chapel Hill Public Library attn. Kayna Baldwin 100 Library Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.


 

Support the project by purchasing collector's sets from previous years through our Friend's of CHPL website.

Get past sets here
 

Check out our 2022 winning entries

By Liessa Bowen

By Susan Brubaker Knapp

By Amelia Brinson

By Robert Votta

By Charlotte Hord Smith

By Libby Fosso

By Linda Bowerman

 
 

Support the project by purchasing collector's sets from previous years through our Friend's of CHPL website.

Get past sets here
 

2019 Winners

By Martha Moreno Linares

By Kristin Bennett

By Stella Schick

By Anna-Marie Pellett

By Libby Fosso

By Sylvia Leaver

2018 Winners

2017 Winners

2016 Winners

2015 Winners

  • 2015 Banned Books Trading Cards at Chapel Hill Public Library
  • 2015 Banned Books Trading Cards at Chapel Hill Public Library
  • 2015 Banned Books Trading Cards at Chapel Hill Public Library
  • 2015 Banned Books Trading Cards at Chapel Hill Public Library
  • 2015 Banned Books Trading Cards Chapel Hill Public Library
  • 2015 Banned Books Trading Cards Chapel Hill Public Library
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  • 2015 Banned Books Trading Cards Chapel Hill Public Library
  • 2015 Banned Books Trading Cards Chapel Hill Public Library
  • 2015 Banned Books Trading Cards Chapel Hill Public Library
  • 2015 Banned Books Trading Cards Chapel Hill Public Library
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2014 Winners

  • Chapel Hill Public Library Banned Books Trading Cards
  • The Scarlet Letter Banned Book Trading Cards Project
  • I know why the caged bird sings banned book
  • Chapel Hill Public Library Banned Books Project -Leaves of Grass Walt Whitman
  • where the wild things are banned book trading card Chapel Hill Public Library
  • Banned Books local art Perks of Being a Wallflower
  • Chapel Hill Public Library Banned Books Trading Cards 2014

2013 Winners

  • 1984 Chapel Hill Public Library Banned Books Projecct
  • BBW Banned Books Week Art project
  • Clay Carmichael Banned Books Kids
  • BBW Banned Books Week Art project
  • BBW Banned Books Week Art project
  • BBW Banned Books Week Art project
  • BBW Banned Books Week Art project

About the Project

Chapel Hill Public Library, in partnership with Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture, asks local artists and amateurs to make small (5” wide x 7” tall) original works of art on paper, inspired by books or authors that have been challenged, censored, or banned.

Based on their artistic excellence, seven of these works are selected by a jury to receive a $100 prize and become trading cards; artwork is featured on the front and an artist’s statement and information about the book or author are on the back. All entries are displayed in an exhibit at the library during Banned Books Week and beyond.  Trading cards are distributed for free during Banned Books Week and beyond.

Banned Books Week is an annual national event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of intellectual freedom. Held during the last week of September, it highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the dangers of censorship by spotlighting actual and attempted banning of books. We coordinate this project to bring these important issues into the community’s conversation in a fun, interesting, and unique way.