UNBANNED campaign launches to fight book bans and fund DC library

Social Art and Culture launched UNBANNED: 100 Days on June 19 to spotlight the impact of book bans and raise $25,000 for The Artivism Library Collection in Washington, DC. The campaign runs through September 27 and ties fundraising to preservation of challenged, banned and rare books.

Why it matters: - Book bans and censorship are limiting access to literature, diverse perspectives and information in communities across the country. - The campaign is built to preserve challenged and rare books while supporting literacy, learning and the freedom to read. - The effort also aims to keep Black and Brown voices from being further silenced as schools and libraries remove books from shelves.

What happened: - Social Art and Culture launched UNBANNED: 100 Days on June 19, 2026. - The 100-day campaign runs through September 27, 2026. - The effort is designed to help open The Artivism Library Collection in Washington, DC. - The campaign also seeks to raise $25,000 for the library opening.

The details: - PEN America reported that 3,743 unique titles were banned in U.S. public schools in the 2024-2025 school year. - PEN America also reported that more than 1,000 nonfiction titles were removed from library shelves during the previous school year. - PEN America’s report, Facts & Fiction, documents the nationwide rise in censorship. - The American Library Association’s 2026 State of America’s Libraries report found public awareness and opposition to state and federal efforts to restrict access to books and information continued to grow throughout 2025. - Social Art and Culture says UNBANNED is an act of artivism that preserves information, culture, knowledge, creativity and history. - The campaign also educates the public about legislative efforts affecting access to literature. - State and federal bills have fueled ongoing debates about censorship, education and the freedom to read.

Between the lines: - UNBANNED is trying to turn awareness into direct action by linking book purchases to library building. - The campaign’s structure suggests preservation work is being used as both a cultural statement and a fundraising tool. - The focus on banned, challenged and rare books points to a response to a broader political fight over who gets access to information.

What's next: - Social Art and Culture will continue the 100-day campaign with featured books, community highlights and progress updates. - Supporters can buy titles from a curated list through The Artivism Library Collections’ Bookshop page, and each purchase will be donated to the library. - Contributions also enter supporters into a drawing for a curated Banned Book Package. - The campaign will continue building The Artivism Library Collection ahead of its opening in Washington, DC.

The bottom line: - UNBANNED is positioning book buying as a form of resistance, preservation and library-building at a time when book bans are spreading nationwide. - More information is available on Social Art and Culture’s Instagram.