In Winter 2027, Cleveland Public Library will host the final chapter of the Inventory of Lost Books, a series of public art installations taking place in both Chicago and Cleveland. At once immersive and urgent, Inventory of Lost Books invites visitors to consider their own relationship with books, the power structures that shape access to information, and the ongoing struggle for intellectual freedom. Each chapter serves not only as a standalone experience, but also as part of a larger call to action against the erasure of ideas, histories, and cultural memory.
Inventory of Lost Books asks what is lost when books are silenced — and what responsibility we share in preserving access to stories, histories, and ideas.
During Cleveland Book Fest, CPL will be collecting hard-bound copies of the thousands of books that were banned in 2025 alone. People interested in contributing their own copies of these books to be used in the installation, may find the complete list of requested titles here and drop them off at any Cleveland Public Library location, including the Book Nook at the West Side Market and Main Library during the Inkubator Writing Conference.