Library Foundation SD

10/10/2026

Know a teen or young adult who can't find the books they're looking for? 👀

Books Unbanned is San Diego Public Library's program giving anyone ages 12–26, anywhere in the U.S., free access to frequently challenged eBooks and eAudiobooks. No matter what's happening at their local library or school board, the books are still within reach.

Library Foundation SD is proud to be a partner in Books Unbanned.

📲 Share this with someone who needs it.
👉 Sign up: mysdpl.org/booksunbanned

10/09/2026

The freedom to read only matters if there's a library to read in.

Open doors. Full shelves. Librarians who help every reader find what they need. That's what keeps access real across all 37 San Diego Public Library branches, and it depends on a community that speaks up for it.

Banned Books Week ends tomorrow. Advocating for our San Diego Public Libraries doesn't.

👉 Take action here: libraryfoundationsd.org/take-action

10/08/2026

Eleven books. Thousands of challenges. One permanent home on our shelves. 📚

The American Library Association has released its list of the most challenged books of 2025:

1️⃣ Sold by Patricia McCormick
2️⃣ The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
3️⃣ Gender Q***r by Maia Kobabe
4️⃣ Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
5️⃣ Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (tie)
5️⃣ Tricks by Ellen Hopkins (tie)
7️⃣ A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
8️⃣ A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (tie)
8️⃣ Identical by Ellen Hopkins (tie)
8️⃣ Looking for Alaska by John Green (tie)
8️⃣ Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout (tie)

Each of these stories means something to the readers who find it. That's why Library Shop SD keeps a permanent Banned Books display, not just during Banned Books Week but every day of the year. The freedom to read doesn't take a week off.

Every purchase at Library Shop at Central and Library Shop Mission Hills supports free San Diego Public Library programs at all 37 branches.

📍 Library Shop at Central | 330 Park Blvd
📍 Library Shop Mission Hills | 925 W. Washington St

Visit Library Shop SD and choose your next read.

10/08/2026

Eleven books. Thousands of challenges. One permanent home on our shelves. 📚

The American Library Association has released its list of the most challenged books of 2025:

1️⃣ Sold by Patricia McCormick (Patricia Mccormick)

2️⃣ The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (Stephen Chbosky)

3️⃣ Gender Q***r by Maia Kobabe ()

4️⃣ Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas (Sarah J. Maas)

5️⃣ Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (tie) (Malinda Lo)

5️⃣ Tricks by Ellen Hopkins (tie) ()

7️⃣ A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (Sarah J. Maas)

8️⃣ A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (tie) (Anthony Burgess Foundation)

8️⃣ Identical by Ellen Hopkins (tie) ()

8️⃣ Looking for Alaska by John Green (tie) (John Green)

8️⃣ Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout (tie) (Jennifer L. Armentrout)

Each of these stories means something to the readers who find it. That’s why Library Shop SD keeps a permanent Banned Books display, not just during Banned Books Week but every day of the year. The freedom to read doesn’t take a week off.

Every purchase at Library Shop at Central and Library Shop Mission Hills supports free San Diego Public Library programs at all 37 branches.

📍 Library Shop at Central | 330 Park Blvd
📍 Library Shop Mission Hills | 925 W. Washington St

Visit Library Shop and choose your next read.

10/08/2026

Fewer than 3% of book challenges in 2025 came from parents.

So who is trying to pull books off library shelves? Nearly 92% of censorship attempts came from pressure groups and government decision-makers. Only about 1% came from individual library users.

Most of these attempts were driven by partisan book rating websites and the lists they generate. On average, each challenge targeted 18 titles at once. From 2001 to 2020, the average was one.

Public libraries are feeling it. In 2025, 824 books were challenged at public libraries, compared with an average of 102 a year from 2001 to 2020.

Swipe through the American Library Association's 2025 Censorship by the Numbers for the full picture.

This Banned Books Week, Library Foundation SD stands with San Diego Public Library and every reader's right to choose.

Take action: libraryfoundationsd.org/take-action

10/07/2026

🕺💃 A dime a dance. A forbidden romance. A murder in the Stingaree District. And live swing music on the 9th floor of the San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common. 🕺💃

This Tuesday, October 27, come early for swing dancing with San Diego jazz band Zzymzzy Quartet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., then stay for author Marivi Soliven in conversation with Jennifer Coburn for the presentation and signing of "Taxi Dancer," a historical novel based on a true 1935 murder in San Diego's downtown Stingaree District. Period attire encouraged.

Library Shop SD is proud to serve as bookseller for this event, produced by the Humanities Department at San Diego Central Library. Refreshments served. Registration preferred but not required.

Click the EVENTS link in our bio for full details and to register.

📅 Tuesday, October 27

🎷 Swing Dancing: 5:30 p.m.

📖 Author Talk: 6:30 p.m.

📍 Qualcomm Dome Terrace, 9th Floor
San Diego Central Library
330 Park Blvd.

10/06/2026

The In-N-Out Cover-to Cover reading challenge starts today! This is a fun annual fall tradition to encourage literacy!

Who: Children ages 4 – 12.

When: October 3 through November 14

Where: Any Open San Diego Public Library location.

How: Read and log 5 books or 300 minutes online or on a paper log available at any open San Diego Public Library location. Once completed, families can visit the library to receive their certificate for a free hamburger or cheeseburger (up to 3 awards).
Learn more or register online here: https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/cover-to-cover

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

The Cover to Cover Club is back at San Diego Public Library! 🍔💛❤️

Now through Nov. 14, children 4 to 12 years old may sign up online or in-person and start earning their way to free hamburgers, cheeseburger and grilled cheese sandwiches. All it takes is reading 5 books or reading up to 300 minutes.

🤫 Plus, participants can earn up to 3 total burgers by repeating the challenge.

🌴 Sound tasty? Learn more: MySDPL.org/CovertoCover

10/06/2026

Library Foundation SD CEO Patrick Stewart joined Café con Pam Podcast for a conversation about the future of San Diego Public Library, and the topics they covered are as important today as ever.

Patrick discussed the impact of underfunding on children's literacy, the essential role libraries play as community hubs and safe spaces, and how Library Foundation SD transformed the former Mission Hills branch into a bookstore that supports San Diego Public Library. He also shares practical steps you can take to advocate for and protect your libraries.

Listen to the full conversation:

San Diego's public libraries are facing funding challenges that thr...