Join us on Saturday, October 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. as we celebrate the Freedom to Read!  Planning is still underway, so watch for more details about this fun-filled day featuring nationally recognized authors, fascinating panel discussions, a children’s storytime hosted by Annie’s Foundation, a reading of banned poetry, vendor tables featuring merchandise and free information, even a banned books trivia contest.  And, of course, a great selection of books from Beaverdale Books!

Here’s the schedule so far–check back often as we are still adding to it!

10:00 am: Welcome – Sara Hayden Parris – Annie’s Foundation

Reading of American Library Association’s Bill of Rights – Susan Woody, Des Moines Public Library Director

10:20 am: Children’s Storytime – Big Momma Jean Reads And Tango Makes Three, Jacob’s New Dress, and All Are Welcome –  Annie’s Foundation.

11:00 am: Banned Books 101 – Who, What, & Why? – School Board Panel Discussion with Dr. Austin Baeth, Soneeta Mangra-Dutcher, Daniel Gutmann, and Jackie Biger (School of Library and Information Science). Co-hosted by Des Moines Public Library, moderated by Christine Riccelli.

12:00 pm: Poetry& Banned Poetry Popup – Poetry Readings by Diane Glass, Pat Boddy, and Maureen Mondora – Bring your lunch and join the fun!

12:30 pm: Banned, Challenged, Censored…Who Wins, Who Loses When Books are Purged? – Panel Discussion with Keenan Crow (One Iowa), Randy Evans (Iowa Freedom of Information Council), Sara Hayden Parris (Annie’s Foundation), Kristin Hilton (school counselor). Moderated by Rekha Basu.

1:30 pm: Discussion of To Kill a Mockingbird – Judge Odell McGhee, Beth Younger, James A. Autry. Moderated by Carol Spaulding Kruse.

2:30 pm: Virtual Authors Visit – And Tango Makes Three – Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell

3:00 pm: Keynote Author – Out of Darkness – Ashley Hope Perez 

4:00 pm: Banned Books Trivia Contest – Hosted by American Civil Liberties Union and Iowa Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee.

Shop the Beaverdale Books pop-up store and visit our vendor tables!

Annie’s Foundation | Capital City Pride | Defense for Democracy | Des Moines Pride Center

Des Moines Public Library Foundation | Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement

Iowa Library Association | One Iowa | Poetry &

Many thanks to our Event Sponsors:

TRUDY HOLMAN HURD   

 CHARLOTTE HUBBELL     

Des Moines Public Library | Raygun | Diane Glass | Diane Johnson| Dory Briles| Alicia Claypool | The Insomniac Bookshop

  Dennis Kelly | Judy Haines | Rachael Baethke

If you would like to be a vendor or sponsor of the festival, visit: or print out and mail one of the forms below.