On Friday, April 24, 2026, McIntosh Memorial Library (Viroqua, WI) will host Books UnBanned: Freedom to Read, a day-long event exploring intellectual freedom, book censorship, and storytelling.
Lois Lowry
12:45pm
Viroqua Area High School Gymnasium
Midday programming takes place at Viroqua Area High School Gymnasium (100 Blackhawk Dr, Viroqua, WI). Doors open at 12:15 p.m., with programming beginning at 12:45 p.m. Local Books UnBanned Teen Ambassadors will present their advocacy work and introduce a virtual visit with Lois Lowry. Lowry will speak from 1:00–1:30 p.m., followed by a Q&A from 1:30–2:00 p.m. You can join Lois Lowry’s talk via the Zoom link here.
The Librarians
4:00pm
Westby Area Performing Arts Center
Afternoon and evening events continue at the Westby Area Performing Arts Center (206 West Ave S, Westby, WI). At 4:00 p.m., Emma Eriksson of the national Books UnBanned Campaign will discuss the movement’s origins and impact. From 4:30–6:00 p.m., the documentary The Librarians will screen, examining the rise of book bans and librarians’ responses nationwide.
Angie Thomas
7:00pm
Westby Area Performing Arts Center
The day concludes with an evening talk by Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give, from 7:00–8:00 p.m., followed by a book signing from 8:00–9:00 p.m. Books will be available for purchase through Dragonfly Books (Decorah, IA).