The New York Public Library Announces Slate of New Programming for Banned Books Week

At a time of record book challenges, the Library will stand against censorship and shine a light on intellectual freedom with programs and events all week long

The New York Public Library is marking Banned Books Week (October 5–11) with an array of programming for our patrons of all ages, including over a dozen events across branches. Highlights include a celebration of queer Puerto Rican comics, a virtual teen panel, and a KidsLIVE author talk. 

¡Zas! Queer Puerto Rican Comics Celebration, a joyful evening exploring the intersection of Puerto Rican comics and queer identity, will be held at 53rd St Library on October 9, 2025, at 6–8 PM. It will feature author, activist, and educator Sharon Lee De La Cruz, whose work has been targeted for bans, alongside comics creator Ivan Velez, Eliana Falcón-Dvorsk, and Mariela Figueroa, MCed by drag queen and cosplayer Megami. Book giveaways will be available for in-person attendees. 

The Library will also hold writing workshops with the Nuyorican Poets Café and craft workshops focused on zines and bookmaking celebrating freedom of expression. The Nuyorican Poets Café events will be held at 67th Street Library and Riverside Library in Manhattan; Stapleton Library in Staten Island; and City Island Library and Soundview Library in the Bronx. Zine workshops will be held at Yorkville Library and Roosevelt Island Library in Manhattan; Grand Concourse Library and High Bridge Library in the Bronx; and St. George Library in Staten Island.

For young adults, the Library will host a virtual teen panel, “Banned Books Week and Beyond,” on October 7, 2025, at 4 PM, featuring teen community organizers in discussion about the freedom to read, as well as how young people can get involved in their communities and the causes they care about. On October 6–11, young adults are also encouraged to participate in posting sticky notes in branches or online, responding to the question, “What does the freedom to read mean to you?”

Young adults are also encouraged to explore Issue 5 and Issue 3 of Teen Voices Magazine, the Library’s free magazine by and for teens, which are available online. These issues feature the winners of our National Teen Writing and Art Contests who share a teen perspective in the fight for intellectual freedom.

For children, the Library will host an author talk with Duncan Tonatiuh on October 7 at 3:30–4:30 PM. This KidsLIVE event will include a discussion of Tonatiuh’s book Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation as well as letter writing to Sylvia Mendez about the importance of children being allowed to go to school together. Livestreams of the author talk will be hosted at a selection of branches, including: 125th St Library, Parkchester Library, Allerton Library, Melrose Library, Bloomingdale Library, and Jerome Park Library. Learn more about this event here.

“I’m proud to announce the Library’s commemoration of Banned Books Week through wide-ranging programming for our patrons across New York City. As essential community hubs and repositories of knowledge, libraries have an important role to play in standing against censorship and supporting the open access to information. Year round, we are a destination for all readers to discover and exercise the joy of learning, one book at a time,” said Brian Bannon, Merryl and James Tisch Director of Branch Libraries and Education at The New York Public Library. 

Data from the American Library Association (ALA) found challenges to book titles grew by 65% in 2023 compared to 2022—reaching the highest level ever documented by the organization.

In 2024, ALA recorded challenges to 2,452 unique titles, nearly nine times as many as the annual average of 273 titles for the period from 2001 to 2020. Pressure groups and decision makers who have been swayed by them initiated 72% of censorship attempts. 

During Banned Books Week and beyond, New Yorkers are invited to access our diverse collections for free—all you need is a library card. Apply for a library card online or by visiting a local branch. 

About The New York Public Library

For over 125 years, The New York Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With over 90 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars. The New York Public Library receives approximately 16 million visits through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.