¾«¶«´«Ã½

CHICAGO — are now open for the 2013 Banned Books Week event grants, sponsored by the (FTRF). Grants in the amounts of $2,500 and $1,000 will be given to organizations in support of “Read-Outs” or other activities that celebrate (Sept. 22 – 30, 2013).

Applications for the grants will be accepted through April 30, 2013, and the announcements will be made in June.

The Freedom to Read Foundation - the First Amendment legal defense affiliate of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ - is an official sponsor of Banned Books Week.

This is the fourth year Krug Fund grants will be given. Eight organizations received grants in 2012, six in 2011 and 0. A compilation video of 2012 recipients can be found at . Photos from all 21 projects are available at , and additional information about all the funded events is at .

Organizations are required to submit an event description, timeline and budget with their application; they also will agree to provide a written report, photos and video from their event(s) to FTRF following Banned Books Week. Only not-for-profit organizations may apply. They need not have official 501(c) 3 status. Krug Fund grants cannot be used to buy computer hardware.

Going forward beginning in 2013, organizations may only be awarded grants twice within a six-year period.

For more information on Banned Books Week, challenges to materials in libraries and schools and resources for combating censorship, visit . A compendium of thousands of books that have been banned and challenged can be found in the 2010 "Banned Books Resource Guide," available through the ¾«¶«´«Ã½Store: . You also can purchase Banned Books Week posters, buttons, bookmarks, t-shirts, bracelets and tote bags there.

Contact Jonathan Kelley at jokelley@ala.org with questions, or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 4226.

Judith F. Krug, FTRF’s first executive director, was passionate about Banned Books Week and defending the freedom to read. After her death, the Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund was established to guarantee that the message of Banned Books Week would continue to spread and grow around the United States.