Breaking the Chain: Unlocking Library Programming Ideas in Support of Freedom to Read

A Freedom to Read Week virtual panel

Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Time: 3:30pm – 5:00pm ET

Location: Online via Zoom

How do you encourage readers to seek out banned books? There’s more than one way, that’s for sure! Freedom to Read Week encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom. While there is an increasingly coordinated effort to remove books tackling a wide range of topics from shelves, libraries can put just as much effort into coordinating their own engaging programs in response. This panel includes FTR advocates from across Canada who have seized the opportunity to bring community attention to banned books in creative ways. Tune into this discussion and Q&A period to inspire your own library programming and join the effort to broaden minds and encourage important dialogues!

Hosted by The Education Institute / OLA

Moderator: Emily Burns, Director of Education, OLA

Panelists:

• Kelly McCray, Ontario-based artist and creator of Tower of Banned Books
• Cora-Lee Eisses, Library Assistant, Cape Breton Public Library (Baddeck Branch)
• Wendy Wright, Library Director, Smithers Public Library

Registration: click here

This event uses a pay-what-you-can (PWYC) model and operates on a per-person basis.