Washington Launched Intellectual Freedom Video Series
The state has released a new video project to celebrate Banned Books Week and support local intellectual freedom.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Books
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The Washington Center for the Book has launched an updated video series highlighting the importance of intellectual freedom. This project honors Banned Books Week and features contributions from several notable authors.
Why it matters
These videos serve to spark community discussions regarding intellectual freedom in the state. The project seeks to highlight personal stories and professional perspectives on book access.
The video series includes contributions from authors such as Gabrielle Kirouac Byrne, Christine Day, Sonora Jha, Kelly Jones, Brian Kimmel, Leslie Lutz, and Rena Priest. The content is presented through highlighted quotes and an interactive StoryMap.
The players
Washington Center for the Book
This organization is a program of the Office of the Secretary of State that promotes literacy and literature.
Authors Against Book Bans
This is a professional advocacy organization dedicated to opposing the removal of books from public libraries and schools.
Kelly Jones
She is an author whose work, Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer, was previously removed from a school district.
The details
The project represents an update to the Washington Reads Freely initiative, created through a partnership between the Washington Center for the Book and the Washington chapter of Authors Against Book Bans. The series includes a specific focus on challenges to literature, such as the removal of Kelly Jones' book, Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer, from a school district.
Timeline
Banned Books Week runs from October 4 to October 10, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The state project aligns with the national observation of Banned Books Week to increase public awareness regarding library collections. This strategy follows a pattern set by the national observation of Banned Books Week to coordinate local outreach.
Residents can access the curated video series and the StoryMap via the official WA Reads Freely website. This provides a digital-first approach for community members to engage with content regarding intellectual freedom.
The takeaway
Engaging with these resources allows residents to better understand the ongoing debates surrounding literature in school districts. Readers can participate by exploring the StoryMap to discover which books and themes are currently being highlighted by state authors.
Further reading
Learn more about local literary initiatives by visiting the Books section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Gorgenewscenter.
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