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Some vehicles deliver your online shopping whims. This one delivers books that someone, somewhere, would rather you didn’t read—and you can take one home for free.
Penguin Random House’s Banned Wagon is pulling up to Brooklyn Public Library's Bushwick branch on Monday, October 5, from 2pm to 6pm, bringing a selection of 50 banned and challenged titles for readers of all ages. The stop will include everything from picture books to novels, with free copies available while supplies last.
The stop is part of BPL’s Banned Books Week programming, which includes free events, exhibitions and giveaways focused on censorship and access to literature.
While the wagon might be the week’s most conspicuous arrival, there’s plenty happening beyond its shelves:
At Central Library, artist and children’s book author Christopher Myers’s ongoing exhibition, Unbound, makes its point on a much larger canvas: two 40-foot tapestries. The works bring together characters and settings from frequently banned literary titles, including George Orwell’s Animal Farm and Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye. Myers will also discuss artistic freedom on Tuesday, October 6, at 6:30 pm; registration is available through the library.
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If your ideal evening involves quietly reading in a room full of other people quietly reading, Dekalb Library has you covered. Its BYOB “Bring Your Own Book” Quiet Reading Party gets a Banned Book Read-a-Thon edition on Thursday, October 8, from 6pm to 7:30pm. Participants can read to win Books Unbanned merchandise.
The week culminates in Uprising/Downfall: A Modern Day Teach-In at Central Library on Saturday, October 10, from 7pm to 11pm. Authors, historians, activists, policy experts, musicians and journalists will explore social movements and struggles for equal rights, disability rights, civil rights and intellectual freedom. Readings from frequently banned books are also on the agenda.
The programming connects to BPL’s broader Books Unbanned initiative, which offers teens across the country access to its online catalog. According to the library, more than 21,000 teens from all 50 states have applied for a digital library card through the program.
For the easiest way to participate next week, start in Bushwick: browse the wagon’s selection, pick up a free book while supplies last and give it a spot on your nightstand. Your overly ambitious reading pile can surely accommodate one more.