Santa Cruz Screening Raised Funds for Banned Books
Local students organized a documentary screening to purchase books for school libraries.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Students in Santa Cruz hosted a screening of the documentary The Librarians to raise money for banned book purchases. The event at the Colligan Theater aimed to support local school libraries during Banned Books Week.
Why it matters
The event brought local attention to the rise of book bans in public schools across the United States. It highlights community efforts to ensure student access to challenged literature.
PEN America recorded nearly 12,000 book bans during the 2025-2026 school year. The fundraising effort will result in the purchase of 500 books for local school libraries.
The players
Laird Bowser
He is a student organizer who helped lead the fundraising effort for local school libraries.
Devin Protti
He is one of the student organizers who coordinated the documentary screening at the Colligan Theater.
Alec Thomsen
He is a student organizer who worked to bring attention to Banned Books Week through the event.
PEN America
Founded in 1922, this organization advocates for freedom of expression and tracks censorship in public schools.
Colligan Theater
This local venue hosted the community screening of the documentary The Librarians.
The details
Organized by students Laird Bowser, Devin Protti, and Alec Thomsen, the screening highlighted the harassment and legislation faced by librarians. The effort was co-sponsored by several local institutions, including the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and Bookshop Santa Cruz.
Timeline
Nearly 12,000 book bans occurred during the 2025-2026 school year.
The documentary was screened on October 6, 2026.
Market Landscape
The event aligns with national awareness initiatives like Banned Books Week, which mobilize local communities to address institutional censorship trends. This mirrors a broader push by educational stakeholders to counter legislation through grassroots fundraising.
The initiative directly increases the availability of challenged titles within local school libraries. Residents may see these new books added to collections in the coming months as the 500-book goal is realized.
The takeaway
This event demonstrates how student-led activism can bridge the gap between national policy debates and local resource needs. Interested residents can support similar causes by monitoring upcoming events at local libraries and educational institutions.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts by browsing the Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Santa Cruz Sentinel.
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