Brooklyn, NY—Brooklyn Public Library (BPL)’s Chief Librarian, Nick Higgins, has been named to the 2023 TIME100 Next list. The list highlights 100 emerging leaders who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, health, science, and activism.
Higgins was recognized for his leading role in fighting censorship and book banning across the country. He was instrumental in the creation of BPL’s Books Unbanned, a program providing teens nationwide, ages 13 to 21, access to Brooklyn Public Library’s entire digital collection. Over 7000 teens from all 50 states have applied for a card.
“Through his leadership of Books Unbanned, Nick and the BPL team have helped ensure that thousands of teens across the country have the ability to read what they want. By defending the freedom to read and explore, we are defending our democracy’s future and writing a more inclusive next chapter,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library.
The program has started a movement. In April, Seattle Public Library joined BPL in opening their catalog to young people and additional libraries are planning to join in the coming months.
The American Library Association reported 1269 demands for book removals in 2022, the most since they began keeping records, and double the number from the year before. Of the 2751 individual books targeted, the vast majority are by or about people of color or members of the LGBQTIA community, including George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto which chronicles the author’s experience growing up Black and queer; and The Bluest Eye, the first novel by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Toni Morrison.
George M. Johnson writes “Nick Higgins’ dedication to fighting censorship will forever change the lives and trajectories of kids who rarely get to see themselves reflected on the page.”
You can learn more about Books Unbanned and the fight against censorship here. To read the TIME100 Next profile of Nick Higgins, click here.
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. As a leader in developing modern 21st century libraries, we provide resources to support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.7 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. 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.