Brooklyn Public Library will host Banned Books Week, a series of programming at the Central Library and a number of neighborhood branches from Oct. 6 - 11.
The week-long event highlights the value of free and open access to information, and brings together the entire book community — from librarians and educators to authors, publishers and readers — in shared support of the ability to seek and express ideas openly and freely.
BPL is a national leader in the fight against censorship with Books Unbanned, an initiative that provides young people ages 13-21 with an e-card and allows them to access the system’s entire digital collection. Since launching in 2022, more than 10,000 teens from all 50 states have applied for the e-card — checking out more than 300,000 books.
Monday, Oct. 6
Unscripted: A Night Against Censorship, Featuring George Takei
Central Library, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
A pioneering author, actor and activist, George Takei is the honorary chair of Banned Books Week 2025. Poet and Librarian Adeeba Rana will interview Mr. Takei, followed by appearances and readings by ALA President Sam Helmick, PEN America's Jonathan Friedman and Broadway actors.
Monday, Oct. 6
Central Library, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Have your photo taken with a book that has had an impact on you to become a part of our Books Unbanned Read-in Installation.
Tuesday - Friday, Oct. 7 - 10
Central Library, 5:00pm - 8:00pm (5:00pm - 6:00pm Friday)
Stop by the Central lobby, take a seat, read a banned book and learn about censorship in the United States. This interactive installation will empower library users to dedicate time to read as resistance.
Friday, Oct. 10
Central Library, 5:00pm
Banned Together follows three students as they fight to reinstate 97 books suddenly pulled from their school libraries. As they evolve from local to national activists the film reveals the dark forces behind the accelerating wave of book bans in the U.S., and the continued harassment of educators and librarians.
