QPL Rally in Front of Flushing Library
Historic Day of Action Against Books Bans Held in New York, Brooklyn, and Queens Public Libraries
First-ever anti-censorship rally mobilizes scores of New Yorkers against the alarming rise of book bans
October 19, 2024—Today, The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library held the first-ever nationwide Freedom to Read Day of Action, a coordinated set of rallies held by almost 200 libraries in nearly all 50 states against book bans and censorship. The Freedom to Read Day of Action was organized in partnership with the American Library Association (ALA) and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries.
In a remarkable show of united support for the freedom to read, thousands of people attended rallies held in New York City alone and over 6,000 people have already signed the Freedom to Read pledge, which launched this week. The pledge will remain open for signatures through Election Day.
“We are thrilled to have organized and celebrated the first-ever Freedom to Read Day of Action, and to have gathered and welcomed hundreds of book lovers and advocates across New York City. Public Libraries are a cornerstone of democracy, allowing us to exercise intellectual freedom and widen our perspectives and worldviews. As book bans continue to rise, it’s more important than ever to stand up for the freedom to read. Our action day sends a clear message: book bans have no place in the United States,” said Brooklyn Public Library Linda E. Johnson, Queens Public Library President Dennis M. Walcott and The New York Public Library President Anthony W. Marx.
In addition to the turn-out for the Freedom to Read Day of Action and number of the Freedom to Read Pledge sign-ups, supporters elevated the issue of book bans to the forefront of public discussion with an outpouring of support on social media using the hashtag #FreedomToRead.
The latest data from ALA reveals the staggering rise of book bans since 2020, which has continued at pace. New data from PEN America found that book bans nearly tripled during the 2023-2024 academic year. The majority of the banned or challenged books are aimed at young people and are disproportionately written by or about people of color or people who identify as LGBTQ+.
“At a time when our nation and the world is full of division, there is one place in almost every community with a welcome for everyone,” said ALA President Cindy Hohl. “At the library, we can make ourselves at home with a familiar story – and we can step outside our comfort zone with a book about unfamiliar places, characters and ideas. There’s no limit to what we can learn, including how to participate in this democracy that gives us the freedom to read.”
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 millions of visitors through its doors annually and millions more around the globe 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.
About Queens Public Library
Queens Public Library is one of the largest and busiest public library systems in the United States, dedicated to serving the most ethnically and culturally diverse area in the country. An independent, non-profit organization founded in 1896, Queens Public Library offers free access to a collection of more than 5 million books and other materials in 50 languages, technology and digital resources. Each year, the Library hosts tens of thousands of online and in-person educational, cultural, and civic programs and welcomes millions of visitors through its doors. With a presence in nearly every neighborhood across the borough of Queens, the Library consists of 66 locations, including branch libraries, a Central Library, seven adult learning centers, a technology center located at the Queensbridge Houses, the nation’s largest public housing complex, and a community learning center at another public housing complex, the Ravenswood Houses. It also has five teen centers, two bookmobiles, and two book bicycles.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. Providing innovative library service for over 125 years, we support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.6 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We are a global leader in the fight for the freedom to read through our Books Unbanned initiative, offering teens across the US access to the library’s online catalog. We provide nearly 65,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.
Media Contacts
BPL: Fritzi Bodenheimer, fbodenheimer@bklynlibrary.org, 929-276-4232
NYPL: Sandee Roston, sroston@nypl.org, 212-621-0650
QPL: Elisabeth de Bourbon, edebourbon@queenslibrary.org, 917-650-3815