Library Hosting Banned Book Read-In-Walk-Out
The library is hosting a Banned Book Read-In-Walk-Out event October 5.
On October 5 at 5:30 PM, the Greensburg Decatur County Public Library will host a banned book read-in-walk-out event for adults at the Sally Crane Story Walk for Banned Books Week.
The read-in-walk out is a national collaboration between the American Library Association, audiobook platform Libro.FM, indie bookshops and public libraries. Libro.FM is providing free audio copies of either “How To Defend Books And Why” by Danny Caine or “Banned Together” by Ashley Hope Perez to participants to listen to as they walk. The event is designed to spread awareness about book bans.
Banned Books Week, “is an annual event that celebrates the freedom to read and highlights the harms of censorship,” explained GDCPL Public Services Assistant Karen Lane, who is organizing the library’s read-in-walk-out. “Banned Books Week highlights books that have been ‘challenged’ (an attempt to remove or restrict materials) or ‘banned’ (the actual removal of materials) in schools and public libraries,” Lane wrote via email.
This is the only event the library has planned for Banned Books Week, however they will have a month-long display featuring commonly banned or challenged books. Participants will be able to claim their copy of either “Banned Together” or “How To Defend Books And Why” via an emailed code or scannable QR code. Participants only get one book. The read-in-walk-out will start at the Sally Crane Storywalk and continue through Rebekah Park. The walk will be a one-hour round trip, 30 minutes one direction and 30 minutes back. Participants can walk at their own pace and do not need to keep up with the group.
Lane encouraged those interested in participating to read the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill and the ALA’s “Show Up For Our Libraries” page: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/show-up-for-our-libraries for further information on supporting their local libraries year-round.
The ALA launched Banned Books Week in 1982 as a response to a sudden surge in book challenges to libraries, schools and bookstores. The 2026 Banned Books Week theme is “Let Books Be. Protect The Freedom To Read.” The most frequently challenged books in 2025 according to the ALA’s Top Ten Most Challenged Books list were:
- “Sold” by Patricia McCormick
- “The Perks Of Being A Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky
- “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe
- “Empire Of Storms” by Sarah J. Maas
- “Late Night At The Telegraph Club” by Malinda Lo
- “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins
- “A Clockwork Orange” by Anthony Burgess
- “Identical” by Ellen Hopkins
- “Looking For Alaska” by John Green
- “Storm And Fury” by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Where: Greensburg Decatur County Public Library, 1110 East Main Street, Greensburg, IN, 47240 (Patio)
When: October 5, 2026, 5:30 PM
Registration? Required. To register visit: https://greensburglibrary.libcal.com/event/17378871
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