Annual Freedom to Read
Festival in Queens, NYC
Book bans and censorship are on the rise, threatening the right for free expression. Since 2023, the annual Freedom to Read Festival provides a haven for banned books, hands-on art and activism, inviting New Yorkers of all ages to celebrate the right to read and take action to protect it. The festival is a grassroots initiative, spearheaded by Kew & Willow Books and Something for Sophie with leadership and support from neighborhood parent groups.
What Are Book Bans and Why Do They Matter?
Books are considered banned when they’re removed from a library’s collection after being challenged by a person or group. Book bans and challenges have reached an all-time high in the U.S., overwhelmingly targeting books for young adults written by or featuring LGBTQ+ people or people of color. Bans and challenges can also lead to “quiet censorship,” which occurs when books are not made available out of fear that they will be challenged. Book bans matter because they silence perspectives, erase identities, and eliminate choice. Being able to read about different perspectives and experiences is essential to the free flow of ideas that’s at the heart of our democracy. In uniting against book bans and censorship in all forms, we champion intellectual freedom and the right of all voices to be heard.
Join our event in person.
Join us for our 3rd Annual Freedom to Read Queens Festival in Forest Hills, New York — a day to learn, create, and share in community. Programming is for all ages, including educational workshops and panel discussions for adults, storytelling and art builds for families, and advocacy workshops for allies and community members who want to take action. Stay tuned for ticketing and schedule details.
Write to your local library.
If you believe in freedom, if you believe that people should decide for themselves what they and their children read, thank your local library workers for fighting the fight against censorship.
Check out a banned book.
Circulation matters! Checking out banned books or books about topics that are frequently targeted for censorship proves that the community is interested in reading them. Circulation data supports keeping the books on shelves when they are challenged and the ordering of more books by the same authors or on the same topic.
Register to VOTE.
Speaking of decision makers, are you registered to vote? The right to read is on the ballot in communities across the country be prepared to vote in all elections, including for library and school boards.
Report censorship.
Most censorship goes unreported. You can help us track trends, identify targeted titles, and develop support materials by submitting a confidential Censorship Report.
Attend your city council meeting.
Most book ban battles are being fought on the local level at library board, school board, and city council meetings. Make sure local officials know you support access to book of all kinds by attending, listening, and speaking out against censorship.
Frequent Asked Questions
Common Questions