2024 Banned Books Display Instagram Contest

Stand Up to Censorship in Style!

WHAT: After several consecutive years of unprecedented book challenges, it is more important than ever to celebrate Banned Books Week. From September 22 to September 28, 2024, show ABA how your store is promoting banned books in your community for a chance to win up to $500 ($100 each for contributing team members and the rest in pizza party money; distributed as $100 gift cards). Runners-up will receive a print copy of The ABA Right to Read Handbook. Submissions are due by midnight local time at the end of the last day of Banned Books Week, September 28.

WHO: ABA Member Bookstores with Instagram accounts can create attractive and attention-grabbing displays for customers to enjoy during Banned Books Week. Judging of all eligible entries will be conducted by a panel of non-partisan judges.

WHEN: The contest runs from September 22 through September 28. Within a few weeks of the end of Banned Books Week, the winner will be notified and contacted to arrange payment of the award.

HOW: Bookstore Instagram accounts have until September 28, 2024, to share one post (photo/reel/photo carousel), tag @AmericanBooksellers and @ABFEFreeExpression and use #BannedBooksDisplayContest and #BannedBooksWeek in the caption to be entered to win.

Your display should:

• Feature books that have been banned. Consider using PEN America’s most-banned books of the 2022-2023 school year list, ALA’s Most Challenged Books of 2023 list, or PEN America’s Index of Banned Books 2023 to find recent bans.
• Clearly mark the display with “Banned Books Week” or “Banned Books”
• Use text or other visuals to draw your customers’ attention and make a statement

Here are some additional ideas:

• Lean into themes of liberation, the freedom to read, and ironizing the idea of “dangerous books”
• Use ABA’s Banned Books Week kit if you ordered one*
• Place your display somewhere visible and eye-catching
• Curate your list for your community. Use the above-listed resources or local resources to highlight local bans
• Make your list representational. Book bans disproportionately target books by and about LGBTQ+ people and people of color
• Tie sales to activism. Use your display to distribute information about censorship in your community or around the country, draw attention to grassroots organizing against censorship, or display The Right to Read Handbook.

Judging criteria:

• Visual presentation
• Creativity and originality
• Banned Books Week messaging

Bonus points for: Humor, use of color(s), education and advocacy regarding banned books

All prizes are courtesy of the American Booksellers Association.

See Official Rules for more information.

* All kits have been distributed for the year. No preference will be given to members using ABA materials.