The freedom to read is under attack as libraries across the country face coordinated campaigns to remove books from shelves, dismantle displays, & cancel programs. This autumn, we’re advocating for your Right to Read at Chapel Hill Public Library, around the state, and beyond—and we’d like you to join us.
- Take part in our Right to Read postcard writing campaign and write a lawmaker or school board member to urge them to oppose book bans, or send an author, teacher, or librarian a message of support.
- Check out and read banned books!
- Attend one of our events during Banned Books Week. See all upcoming events here.
Spread the word
From the started of Banned Books Week on September 22, through Election Day on November 5, stop by the library to view our Right to Read exhibit and pick up limited-edition postcards.
- Use these postcards to send a powerful message to North Carolina legislators, send a message of support to educators and authors, or send a card to friends, family, and fellow readers to share about the dangers of censorship.
- Write a card, drop it in the box at the library and we'll mail it out for you! Last year, we mailed more than 250 postcards as part of our Right to Read effort.
- Send a card? Receive a card? We'd love to see it. Tag us on social media and spread the word!
Who to write?
Below is a list of mailing addresses of area North Carolina lawmakers. Want to write to your representatives? Input your mailing address here for a list of your representatives.
State of North Carolina
Governor Josh Stein (Dem): 20301 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-0301
North Carolina General Assembly
Orange County
Senator Graig Meyer (Dem): 16 West Jones Street, Rm. 1121 Raleigh, NC 27601
Representative Allen Buansi (Dem): 300 N. Salisbury Street, Rm. 514 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
Representative Renée A. Price (Dem): PO Box 1303, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Alamance County
Senator Amy S. Galley (Rep): 300 N. Salisbury Street, Rm. 521, Raleigh, NC 27603
Representative Dennis Riddell (Rep): 6343 Beale Rd, Snow Camp, NC 27349
Representative Stephen A. Ross (Rep): 16 West Jones Street, Rm. 1229, Raleigh, NC 27601-1096
Chatham County
Senator Natalie S. Murdoch (Dem): 16 West Jones Street, Rm. 2119, Raleigh, NC 27601
Representative Robert T. Reives II (Dem): 300 N. Salisbury Street, Rm. 506, Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
United States Senate
Senator Ted Budd (Rep): 304 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Online contact form: https://www.budd.senate.gov/contact/
Senator Thom Tillis (Rep): 310 New Bern Ave, Suite 122, Raleigh, NC 27601
Online contact form: https://www.tillis.senate.gov/email-me
U.S. House of Representatives
North Carolina District 4:
The Honorable Valerie P. Foushee (Dem): 1716 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC, 20515-3304
Orange County Board of County Commissioners
300 W. Tryon St., Whitted Bldg. Rm-220, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Town of Chapel Hill Mayor & Town Council
Town Hall, Second Floor, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514-5705
Email: mayorandcouncil@townofchapelhill.org
Below is a list of mailing addresses of North Carolina libraries affected by book challenges and bans. Consider sending a message of support to library staff or writing a letter to library boards encouraging them to strengthen their policies and keep books on shelves.
Alamance County Library Committee: 342 South Spring Street, Burlington, NC 27215
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library: 6000 Conference Dr, Charlotte, NC 28212
In the news: These are the books Charlotte-area residents wanted to ban
Fontana Regional Library System: 33 Fryemont Street, Bryson City, NC 28713
Gaston County Public Library: 1555 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054
These are the books Charlotte-area residents wanted to ban
Macon County Public Library: 149 Siler Farm Road, Franklin, NC 28734
Wake County Public Library: 4020 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610
In the news: Wake County Library Makes It Harder to Ban Books - INDY Week
Below is a list of mailing addresses of North Carolina school districts affected by targeted book challenges. Consider sending school staff a message of support, or sending school boards a ltter encouraging them to keep books on the shelves.
Catawba County School Board: 2285 N Anderson Ave, Newton, NC 28658
In the news: Book-challenging Catawba County school board candidates take office; Freedom Readers speak out at meeting
Moore County Board of Education: 5277 Hwy. 15-501 South, Carthage, NC 28327
In the news: Books on race, sexuality among most targeted across N.C. schools | WUNC
New Hanover County Board of Education: 6410 Carolina Beach Road, Wilmington, NC 28412
In the news: 1 parent is responsible for a book ban in North Carolina : NPR
Orange County School Board: 200 E. King Street, Hillsborough NC 27278
In the news: Orange County School Board Unanimously Keeps Challenged Books in Libraries - Chapelboro.com
Pender County Board of Education: 925 Penderlea Hwy, Burgaw, NC 28425
In the news: N.C. school district takes 41 books off shelves ‘for review’ - The Free Speech Center
Robeson County Board of Education: 100 Hargrave St, Lumberton, NC 28358
In the news: A Robeson County preacher is on a quest to ban books. The school district says no way - Border Belt Independent
Wake County Board of Education: 5625 Dillard Drive, Cary, NC 27518
In the news: As the school year starts, districts prepare for onslaught of book challenges by conservatives | NC Newsline
Pitt County School Board: 1717 W. Fifth St., Greenville, NC 27834
In the news: Books on race, sexuality among most targeted across N.C. schools | WUNC
Read Banned Books
The American Library Association tracks censorship and challenges to intellectual freedom across the nation. Each year, they publish a list of the top 10 most frequently challenged books—meaning, the top 10 books that individuals and groups have tried to censor. You can see the top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023 below.
Stop book bans
Beyond reading banned books and writing post cards, how can you get involved in the fight against book bans? Here are a few more ways:
- Write op-eds for your local news media
- Share statistics on social media
- Speak up at school board meetings
- Support organizations fighting against censorship
The American Library Association estimates that up to 97% of book challenges go unreported. If you know of book challenges near you, don’t let them happen in darkness. Report challenged books:
More resources
- Banned in the USA: Rising School Book Bans Threaten Free Expression and Students’ First Amendment Rights (April 2022) - PEN America
- The 11 Most Banned Books of the Start of the 2022-2023 School Year - PEN America
- Book Banning Resources
- Addressing Book Challenges
Need ideas of what to say?
- A Community Action Toolkit - Letters of Support
- EMAIL YOUR REPS: Don't Ban Books in the United States - EveryLibrary Action
- Write Your Legislators About Banned Books Right Now With This Template: Book Censorship News, February 10, 2023
- A Template for Talking with School and Library Boards About Book Bans: Book Censorship News, August 5, 2022