We revisit an episode from January 2021 in honor of National Library Workers Day, and ask: what do librarians do all day? When they're not planning programs or working the reference desk, these librarians are also obscure trivia players, birders and ... sword fighters!  Read a transcript here. Have a minute? Vote for Borrowed and Banned in the Webby's! We were nominated for an award in the "Best Writing for Podcasts" category.  Celebrate National Library Workers Day by thanking your favorite library worker or attending one of BPL's National Library Week events. Listen to "On the Fro ..read more

Teens and older adults are perhaps the two age groups you might think have the least in common. But a new program at BPL seeks to bring the two generations together ... by having them debate. Read a transcript of this episode on our web page. Resources mentioned on this episode: Learn more about services for older adults at BPL and programs for teens! Listen to "Bridging the Gap," a podcast series on our BKLYN Community Audio feed and check out these books about debate. Take this very short survey to let us know what you think about Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Debate at BPL. Help u ..read more

Brooklyn has 62 neighborhood libraries, each with a distinct architecture, culture, and soul. To kick off the new season and to celebrate our audio stories coming home to Brooklyn, we'll take a tour of the borough with the help of our neighborhood libraries and some of our stalwart patrons who visited all 62 of them ... in a matter of days! Read a transcript of this episode. Take our Browse the Branches challenge! Not in New York City? You can read your way through the branches with this book list. Help us keep our libraries open by fighting for our city funding. Write to your city leaders! O ..read more

Library workers often risk their livelihoods when they speak out against censorship, spurring community members to pick up the fight for intellectual freedom. We tell the story of how one Louisiana parish came together to defend their library amidst book challenges, tip lines, and even sign burning. Read the transcript here. Our call to action for this episode: Find the people in your community who care about public libraries and get together with them. More resources: EveryLibrary Institute is an organization that seeks to build voter support for libraries. Learn more about their support o ..read more

Maia Kobabe's debut memoir, Gender Queer, was the most frequently banned book in 2021 and 2022. We talked with em about what it's like to be on the recieving end of so many challenges, and the importance of public libraries. Read the transcript here. More resources: Check out Gender Queer. Find Maia's resources for defending Gender Queer, and eir recent comic about book bans and libraries. Read The Washington Post's article on book bans.   Help us keep our libraries open by fighting for city funding. Write to your city leaders! Or, send a letter on behalf of Queens Public Library or New ..read more

Despite being one of the most frequently banned authors, Toni Morrison’s work has inspired countless others to tell stories outside the mainstream. We take a closer look at Morisson's writing, her legacy, and her impact on the anti-censorship movement. Read the transcript here. Our call to action for this episode: Learn how you can support and defend public libraries at Libraries for the People. More resources: Read Toni Morrison's books. If you're a young person, you can apply for a Books Unbanned card to check out digital library books for free. Listen to Toni Morrison's full 2016 talk th ..read more

George M. Johnson talks about their debut Young Adult memoir All Boys Aren't Blue, the support of their family, their love of Toni Morrison, and the importance of standing against book bans.  Read the transcript here. Resources: Check out All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson.  Read about Johnson's family supporting their book when it was challenged in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. Access other banned books with our free Books Unbanned library card for teens.   Help us keep our libraries open by fighting for city funding. Write to your city leaders! Or, send a letter on behalf o ..read more

Help us keep our libraries open by fighting for city funding. Write to your city leaders! Or, send a letter on behalf of Queens Public Library or New York Public Library ..read more

Mike Curato talks about his award-winning graphic novel Flamer, his writing practice, and how it feels to have his story vaulted into national headlines as parents, politicians, and school boards campaign to remove his book from school and library shelves. Read the transcript here. Resources: Check out Flamer from BPL, or other books by Mike Curato. See what books were most frequently challenged in 2022, according to the America Library Association. This conversation touches on suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or is in crisis, you can talk to someone at th ..read more

Over the past few years, school board races have become more heated and more political — and books have become the center of that political storm. We look at what happened in Keller, Texas when an ultra-conservative group took over the school board. You can read a transcript of this episode here. Our call to action for this episode: Find out when the next school board meeting is happening in your community, and show up. Unite Against Book Bans has an Action Toolkit with advice for how to talk about book bans, and how to contact your local officials about the freedom to read. More resources ..read more