ToolKit

Join us at Right2ReadNight to experience an enchanting gallery of literary wonders. Immerse yourself in the world of banned books and celebrate the freedom to read. Let the power of words inspire and captivate you during this special event.

HOSTING A RIGHT TO READ NIGHT EVENT

This toolkit is designed for anyone hosting a Right to Read Night to help you organize and run your event effectively.

PLANNING YOUR RIGHT TO READ NIGHT

As we approach Banned Books Week, it's essential to have a plan for hosting a successful event. To help, here are a few important steps to follow when planning a Right to Read Night event.

Choose a place. Plan where you will host your event. Select a site that is comfortable, fun, and engaging. It could be at a bookstore, a library, a community center, a coffee shop, a place of worship, or even someone's home! Even if you're having trouble coordinating a venue, consider holding a virtual discussion instead!

Choose a time. Banned Books Week takes place from October 5-11. Confirm with your venue and potential participants before finalizing the time that works for people in your community! Generally, weekday evenings are when most people of all ages will have time for an event like this.

Register your event. Once you have the time and place set for your event, register it online. Once you register your event, NCAC will send you a welcome toolkit, promotional swag, and an event sign-up sheet for more info.

Spread the word. After posting your event, make sure to share it with your friends, family, and community members, both directly and on social media. Ask others to share, and get the word out about your event—get creative! What are the bulletin boards, newsletters, and Facebook groups where your community hears about upcoming events?

Register Participants. Set up registration for the event to capture contact information and create a list of expected attendees. We recommend using a simple Google form or an Eventbrite page.

Read the Book. For the inaugural Right to Read Night, we are reading Chains (Simon & Schuster, 2010) by Laurie Halse Anderson, a powerful story that “shows the lengths we can go to cast off our chains, both physical and spiritual.” Start encouraging interested participants to read the book ahead of time—we suggest at least a month before the event. Plan weekly reminders and offer suggestions on where to find the book affordably. Check school or public libraries, bookstores, online second-hand sellers, or audiobook services.

Prepare any technical setup needs. To set up for a Right to Read Night, you will need event signage, a table, a sign-up sheet, and cozy places to sit!

If possible, it's always helpful to have snacks and refreshments to attract a crowd!

RESOURCES FOR HOSTS

Messaging

An important part of any successful event is a clear and consistent message! Right to Read Night is a great opportunity to make connections in your community and raise awareness about the most challenged books on the American Library Association's list.

As suggestions, here are some key messages to use to draw interested people into the conversation and encourage them to join your event!

The current book-banning campaign is unprecedented, affecting more books than at any time in American history. Its main targets are books by and about people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The First Amendment prohibits the removal of books from school and public libraries because of the ideas they express.
It is essential for public schools and libraries to provide collections that represent
The broadest range of ideas and experiences.
Members of every community must see themselves reflected in public and school library books, programming, and resources.
Books have the power to change and even save lives by fostering conversations about sexuality, race, and gender.

FlyeR

Are you defending the right to read? Pushing back against educational censorship? We’ve got you covered. Our Communications team has created flyers and social media assets for your Right to Read event.

Find assets here

Security

Here are some resources:

Wherever you are, and whatever your level of concern, this is a great opportunity to learn about security best practices to consider for every event, to help ensure your event is as safe and welcoming as possible for all attendees.

Check out Indivisible's Safety, Security, Rights & Conflict De-escalation resource, or review and share the ACLU’s Know Your Rights resource.

If you should have any safety questions or concerns about your event, please email them to the RRN inbox.

If you are encountering a medical or other type of emergency, please contact your local emergency services.

Get Support

As a host, you have support! NCAC organizers are here to help. Be sure to check out the resources listed below as you are finalizing your event plans

Schedule a meeting to discuss your event.
Messaging materials

Find promotional social materials here

If you have questions, email RRN@ncac.org

MEDIA ATTENTION

Securing media attention is an effective way to raise awareness about the freedom to read and to promote advocacy within your community. While we encourage Right to Read Night hosts to reach out to local media, it's not needed for successful participation!

Below are a few best practices to increase your chances of engaging local media.

Create your local media list — Do internet research on local outlets or reporters that cover community events, education, politics, or culture. Think outside the box—reach out to alternative news sources or local social media influencers that cover banned books or similar issues. Identify relevant sources and create a mailing list to share info about your Right to Read event.
Reach out to local reporters — Drop them a call or email to introduce yourself and your event. Be sure to include the location, time, and date, along with a brief description of the event. Feel free to use language from this toolkit! Keep the subject line of the email concise yet intriguing enough to entice reporters to open it. We recommend the following: “TODAY: Community members gather to support the right to read.”
Create talking points — Assign one of the co-organizers to handle media requests and provide concise talking points that clearly explain the event's goals.

Suggested talking points include:

Explain Banned Books Week (https://bannedbooksweek.org/)
The rising number of book challenges across the country (cite ALA’s 2024 numbers)
Discuss Chains and the reasons the book is challenged, and why it’s important to read the book, its value
The larger campaign’s goals that NCAC/RRN has initiated
Larger movement of readers, national

Run Your Event — Enjoy your discussion! If participants are comfortable, take pictures to show off the success of your event!
Share your success on Social Media and in your community — post about it using #RightToReadNight and feel free to tag @NCACensorship or @Right2ReadNetwork. You can find Right to Read Night resources from NCAC or Banned Books Week resources at BannedBooksWeek.org

KEY ROLES

Media Representative — We suggest that one person handle media requests.
Discussion Leader — Identify at least one group member to be responsible for leading the discussion, keeping track, and ensuring the overall program runs on time. The discussion leader should let the conversation progress naturally, but use the discussion questions provided by NCAC to keep the group engaged and on topic.
Communications Representative – Ask one person to take pictures and jot down two or three inspiring comments from participants that can be shared on social media or with local news. Please be mindful of participants' privacy and refrain from sharing photos or quotes without their permission.

RIGHT TO READ NIGHT AGENDA

Before the Event:

Attend NCAC Office Hours: If you have any questions about hosting a successful Right to Read Night, drop by NCAC office hours, scheduled for the weeks leading up to the event.
Confirm Participants: The day before the event, call everyone who RSVP'd to ensure they can still attend.
Prepare Materials: Print out discussion questions and an NCAC Right to Read Network sign-up sheet.
Arrive Early: Prepare the space, set up seating, test the technology, and display any refreshments or branded gear.

During the Event:

Sign-in (5 min): As attendees enter, welcome them and direct them to an area where they can sign in on a prepared sheet, allowing you to collect their contact information for NCAC. They can also pick up the promotional materials we send to you!
Introductions (5-10 min): Start your Night by introducing yourselves! Share your name and why the right to read matters to you!
Chains Discussion (30-45 min): Starting from the provided discussion questions, talk about the book’s themes, its relevance to our current moment, your experience reading it, and why the book should not be banned.
Reception (20-30 mins): Enjoy snacks and refreshments, get to know members of your community, discuss Anderson’s perspective on her book and the challenges to it, and how to continue advocating for the freedom to read with NCAC.
Clean up (10-15 minutes): Ensure the space is returned to its original state and thank attendees, hosts, and anyone who provided the venue.

After the Event:

Share your Success — Post your stories, pictures, and quotes online with #RightToReadNight. Be sure to tag or share them with @NCACensorship and @Right2ReadNetwork.
Post-event follow-up — Email your attendees to thank them for a great action. Immediate follow-up is important for recruitment and group longevity! Invite all attendees and activists to your next event.
Take Action with NCAC — You can take action with the National Coalition Against Censorship. If you're experiencing censorship in your community, use the Report Censorship form at NCAC.org or reach out directly to RRN@ncac.org for support or assistance.
Attend a Right to Read Network onboarding session: In the weeks after hosting your Right to Read Night, join one of our Right to Read Network onboarding sessions to learn how you can continue advocating for the freedom to read!