Want to spread the word in your community about Books Unbanned? Check out our Digital Action Kit which includes social media posts, printable fliers, stickers, the QR code, button maker templates and more.
“In Their Own Words: Youth Voices on Books Unbanned” details the impact of censorship on young people across the United States, using the voices of teens and young readers. Drawing upon thousands of stories from those requesting a Books Unbanned card at Brooklyn and Seattle Public Libraries, the report documents, in heartbreaking and hopeful detail, both the serious impacts of censorship attempts and how programs like Books Unbanned are providing joy, representation and escape for a new generation of readers.
BPL tells the story of America's ideological war with its bookshelves by talking with people most impacted: students on the frontlines, the librarians and teachers whose livelihoods are endangered when they speak up, and the writers whose books have become a political battleground.
Young people are our most valuable asset when it comes to the fight against censorship but activating them can be a challenge for libraries with limited resources and competing priorities.
Brooklyn Public Library has leveraged its years of experience working with teens on the topic of intellectual freedom to develop a free downloadable toolkit that is available to anyone looking to build out teen civic engagement programming. These resources can be used for one-off programs or as part of an ongoing series. This toolkit was designed to be adapted to work for you and your circumstances.