Banned Books Week is September 22 through September 28, and the American Library Association has reported historic highs in the number of challenged and banned book titles.
It is more important than ever, as a community of readers who appreciate the depth, richness, and diversity of perspectives that all books offer, to stand united against censorship.
We encourage you to check out our booklists, our upcoming programs, and our Banned Books Library Card Design Contest—the winning selection will be featured on QPL’s first Banned Books Special Edition Library Card!
Learn more about how QPL is celebrating the freedom to read, during Banned Books Week and beyond.
Banned eBooks List: Always Available on OverDrive & Libby
QPL's 100 Most Popular Banned Books
Banned Books Library Card Design Contest
Banned Books Teen Takeover: QPL Teens Instagram
Banned Books Bookmark Shelf Talkers
Banned eBooks List: Always Available
The best way to fight censorship is to read banned books!
You can download these great eBooks, which will be available with no wait from September 22 through October 31, on OverDrive and the Libby app.
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race
by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli, and Isabel Roxas (Illus.)
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson (Illus.)
Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson
Sold by Patricia McCormick
QPL's 100 Most Popular Banned Books
Get inspired by our list of the 100 most popular banned and challenged books in circulation at Queens Public Library from 2012-2022.
How many of them have you read? Use our list to borrow them from your local library!
Banned Books Library Card Design Contest
Calling all local artists ages 13 and up!
Submit your original artwork that celebrates the freedom to read. Get creative and take a stand against censorship.
The winning artwork will be featured on QPL’s first Banned Books Special Edition Library Card, to be released in 2025.
The winner will also receive a $2,000 cash prize.
Stay tuned for official rules and how to enter the Banned Books Library Card Design Contest, which will run from September 23 to November 30, 2024.
Banned Books Programs
Here’s a selection of our Banned Books virtual and in-person programs, including movie marathons, book talks, storytimes, and much more!
Click the title of each program to learn more about it, and visit our online QPL Calendar to see the full list!
Banned Books Week: September Movies at Forest Hills Library (In-Person)
Wednesdays, September 18 and 25, 2pm
Forest Hills Library, 108-19 71 Avenue
Banned Books Movie Festival: Freedom to Read, Freedom Between the Reels (In-Person)
Monday, Sept. 23; Tuesday, Sept. 24; Thursday, Sept. 26; Friday, Sept. 27, and Saturday, Sept. 28
Download the flyer for movie titles, times, and locations!
Art 2 Heart: Illustrating Banned Books (In-Person)
Monday, September 23, 3pm
Cambria Heights Library, 218-13 Linden Boulevard
Banned Books Bingo! (In-Person)
Wednesday, September 25, 3pm
Auburndale Library, 25-55 Francis Lewis Boulevard, Flushing
Culture Connection: Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books with Kirsten Miller and Tim Barnes (Virtual)
Wednesday, September 25, 6pm
Join us on Facebook and YouTube
Banned Books Storytime (In-Person)
Thursday, September 26, 11am
Cambria Heights Library, 218-13 Linden Boulevard
CLDC Banned Books Movie Festival: Captain Underpants (In-Person)
Thursday, September 26, 3pm
Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica
Friends of Ridgewood Library Banned Book Giveaway (In-Person)
Thursday, September 26, 4pm
Saturday, September 28, 11am
Ridgewood Library, 20-12 Madison Street
Banned Books: Necklaces for Teens (In-Person)
Friday, September 27, 3:30pm
Woodside Library, 54-22 Skillman Avenue
Banned Books: Library Card Design Contest Workshop (In-Person)
Wednesday, October 2, 3:30pm
Monday, October 28, 3:30pm
Wednesday, November 13, 3:30pm
Ozone Park Library, 92-24 Rockaway Boulevard
Day of Action on October 19
In conjunction with the American Library Association and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, New York City’s public libraries are spearheading a nationwide day of action to rally for the freedom to read!
On Saturday, October 19, libraries across the country will gather their patrons and supporters to unite against book bans and demonstrate that the freedom to read is an enduring, non-partisan American value that must be protected.
Stay tuned for more details, and join us, Brooklyn Public Library, and The New York Public Library for the Freedom to Read Community Day of Action on October 19!
Banned Books Teen Takeover: QPL Teens Instagram
Teens will make their voices heard on our QPL Teens Instagram page!
Starting September 22, visit the QPL Teens Instagram page to see great content about banned books by the teens in our community—including Instagram Stories, Reels, polls, games, and much more.
Banned Books Bookmark Shelf Talkers
During Banned Books Week, when you visit our branches, be sure to look for our special Banned Books Shelf Talkers!
These visual displays will be in our book stacks and on our book shelves, indicating a book that has been challenged or banned.
It's an easy way for you to find banned books at the library, and make them part of your reading list.
Remember: the best way to fight censorship is to read banned books, and you will always be able to find them at Queens Public Library!
