Brooklyn Public Library Workers Named 'Librarians of the Year'

PROSPECT HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — Brooklyn Public Librarians have been awarded a coveted national honor for their work in expanding access to banned books.

Library Journal declared the team behind the Books Unbanned campaign as Librarians of the Year for their work "providing free ebook access to teens and young adults nationwide to help defy rising book challenges across the country," according to an announcement.

The award was given to Librarians Nick Higgins, Leigh Hurwitz, Karen Keys and Amy Mikel, and YA Internship Coordinator, Jackson Gomes.

Books Unbanned allows young adults to get a free eCard from Brooklyn Public Library, giving them access to the institution's electronic collections. Since launching last April, over 6,000 teens have applied for the card from all 50 states.

“The alarming rise in censorship over the last year was no match for the members of our Books Unbanned team who remain indefatigably committed to supporting the principles of intellectual freedom," said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library.

The program was a response to the rise in book bans in schools and libraries across the country, with the American Library Association reporting that 1,600 book titles were targeted in 2021.

Many of the banned books contained LGBTQ characters or characters of color, or dealt with themes surrounding non-white, non-heterosexual stories.

“The book bans we see across the country are attempts to silence our individuality, erase our history, and stifle our freedom to be wholly, expansively ourselves,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. "This award is a well-deserved reflection of the many hours of hard work the Books Unbanned team put into battling discrimination and censorship the Brooklyn way: by spreading love."