Since their founding, public libraries have combated the forces of ignorance and hate by making information and knowledge freely available to all. We stand in solidarity with the library workers and communities across the country who are being censored and threatened.
—Tony Marx, President of The New York Public Library
Unfortunately, over the past several years, there has been an alarming increase in book bans and challenges across the country. The American Library Association (ALA) reported that in 2023, the United States saw the highest number of book challenges since they started keeping records more than 20 years ago. Their report also shows that the number of titles targeted for censorship specifically at public libraries rose by 92% in 2023 compared to the previous year. The majority of the banned or challenged books are for young people and feature LGBTQ+ voices and people of color.
As the largest public library system in the country, The New York Public Library stands united with the American Library Association and libraries across the country against book bans. All year long, we’re taking the opportunity to elevate and amplify the stories, voices, and titles that censorship attempts to repress.
Download our free toolkit! To reach teens across the country, NYPL is partnering with the American Library Association to provide a free toolkit and other resources to readers, students, and educators nationwide. Join us to protect the freedom to read in your community.
New! NYC Special Edition Teen Banned Book Club: 'The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School'
In celebration of Pride Month, we are delighted to welcome Sonora Reyes for an in-person author talk at The New York Public Library on June 5. NYPL library cardholders can borrow their book The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, our pick for this special NYC edition of the Teen Banned Club, right away on our free e-reader app, SimplyE.
Calling All Readers! How to Get Involved
As part of NYPL's nationwide Books for All campaign, we're inviting readers, libraries, and book clubs across the U.S. to read along with us and host your own discussion groups to talk about Sonora Reyes's novel The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School. Download our free discussion guide, which includes discussion questions, activities, suggestions for further reading, and more—plus, explore our past book club picks and other resources to protect the freedom to read!
Banned Books Digital Art Challenge
Learn a new skill and design your own book-inspired art! NYPL's TechConnect program is offering free classes on the digital art software Procreate. Come to the Library in the month of May to learn Procreate—then, make an artwork that recreates or reimagines the cover of your favorite banned book and submit it to our digital art challenge!
Watch Now! Banned Book Club Events
Check out discussions with the bestselling authors of our Teen Banned Book Club titles!
Just Announced! Teen Writing Contest Winners
For our National Teen Writing Contest, we asked teens across the country to tell us why the freedom to read is important to them. Nearly 500 teens from 36 states wrote in with their ideas. Now, we’re thrilled to announce our contest winners and the grand prize–winning essay, available to read on Teen Vogue!
More Events at NYPL
Join the Library for author talks, book discussion groups, and more as we unite against book bans.
#UniteAgainstBookBans: Make Your Voice Heard
Share your support for the right to read freely on social media and email.
More Ways to Take Action
Looking for more information about book bans, censorship, and how you can take action against them to support the freedom to read? We’ve got you covered.
Banned Books Reading List
Check out this list of books for all ages, selected by our expert librarians, that have been banned or challenged in schools and libraries across the country. From classic titles like The Color Purple and Slaughterhouse-Five to more recent targets like Hurricane Child, discover voices and perspectives censorship threatens to erase.
New York City Declares October 4 #FreedomToRead Day
As book bans and challenges rise across the country, NYC is standing against censorship. In honor of Banned Books Week, Mayor Adams has officially proclaimed October 4 as #FreedomToRead Day, and is encouraging all New Yorkers to join their public libraries in celebrating the power of books and reading.
Why the Freedom to Read Matters to Judy Blume
Hear from author Judy Blume—whose books for young adult readers have faced bans and challenges—about what we can do to protect the freedom to read, and why it matters.
Photo by Marion Curtis/Starpix.
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