Faith Leaders and Librarians Convene in Chicago to Strengthen Fight Against Book Bans

Faith for Libraries bootcamp equipped attendees to build local partnerships defending libraries, librarians and the freedom to read

CHICAGO — Faith leaders, librarians and civic advocates gathered in Chicago on Thursday for a workshop focused on how religious communities and library workers can work together to fight book bans and defend the freedom to read.

The Faith for Libraries Bootcamp, part of the American Library Association (ALA)’s 2026 Annual Conference & Exhibition, brought together participants at the Marriott Marquis Chicago to examine how religion is being invoked to justify censorship and develop practical strategies for building partnerships between libraries and local faith communities.

The workshop is the latest undertaking of Faith for Libraries: Diverse Faith Communities Supporting Libraries and Librarians, a partnership between Interfaith Alliance, the American Library Association, Unite Against Book Bans and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries. The campaign challenges the false perception that libraries and religious communities are inherently at odds and emphasizes the critical role people of faith can play in defending libraries and librarians.

The workshop featured Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance ; Velda Love, minister for racial justice at the United Church of Christ; and Qiana M. Johnson, associate dean of libraries for collections and content strategies at Dartmouth Libraries.

“The religious right often invokes faith to justify book bans, but there’s nothing sacred about censorship,” said Rev. Raushenbush. “Faith communities know that libraries are vital civic spaces, where people of every belief and background can encounter new ideas and meET new people. By standing with librarians, people of faith can help protect the freedom to read and ensure our libraries remain open, welcoming places for all.”

"When we defend the freedom to read, we are honoring the very same principle of liberty that protects the freedom of faith,” said Sam Helmick, president of the American Library Association. “Both the library and the house of worship are spaces built on the sacred act of seeking. We welcome people who are looking for answers and trying to understand their place in the world. We both practice a form of radical belonging, insisting that every person who enters our spaces is worthy of dignity, safety, and respect, and underneath these shared values lies the bedrock of our civil society: the First Amendment. "

CONTACT: Ben DePasquale, [email protected]

Shawnda Hines, [email protected]

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