Banned Books Week
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.

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.
Check out our 2022 winning entries
Find Inspiration
For a partial list of banned books see the following resources:
2019 Winners
2018 Winners
2017 Winners
2016 Winners
2015 Winners
2014 Winners
2013 Winners
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.