"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.
Borrowed and Banned podcast: 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.
Want to spread the word about Books Unbanned?
Download the media kitNational Coalition Against Censorship
Unite Against Book Bans
Freadom Fighters
Teen Advocacy Kit
In June 2025, Brooklyn Public Library will launch our Teen Advocacy Kit, developed in partnership with Kelly Jensen (BookRiot). Created specifically for educators, librarians, and anyone who works with teens, the kit will include activities, lessons, and tools for engaging youth in the fight for intellectual freedom. These resources can be used for one-off programs or as part of an ongoing series.
Get notified when the toolkit is released
Get a sneak preview of
the first unit of the toolkit with the Freedom to Read Bingo Card (PDF). This downloadable sheet can be used to encourage teens
to do research about censorship, book bans and how intellectual freedom issues affect them. The Freedom to
Read Bingo Card is written by Kelly Jensen and designed by Emma Karin Eriksson.