Borrowed

Stories that start at the library

Brooklyn Public Library is full of stories. Our podcast brings the best of them to you. 

You can listen by clicking the audio players below, or subscribe to Borrowed on your podcast app of choice.

Current Podcast Series

Borrowed and Returned logo
Borrowed and Returned 

Revisiting the books that changed us, and changed America.

Borrowed and Returned is a new podcast series that examines what our reading public borrowed in the past, and what we’re all reading now. In conversations with library workers, authors and readers across the country, we’ll return to the books that changed us, and changed America, too.

Subscribe to Borrowed on your podcast app of choice so you don't miss an episode of this new series!


 


Previous Podcast Series

Borrowed and Banned 

BPL's Peabody-nominated series about America's ideological war with its bookshelves. Over ten episodes, you'll hear from students on the frontlines, librarians and teachers whose livelihoods are endangered when they speak up, and writers whose books have become political battleground. This series also won a Webby Award and was nominated for an Ambie Award.

Start listening to the series here.

 

Borrowed podcast logo
Borrowed

BPL's Anthem Award-winning podcast is a narrative show about superhero librarians, neighborhood stories and what it means to be a free, democratic place in today’s changing world. We’ve told stories about libraries during natural disasters, the challenges of homelessness, and NYC’s fraught relationship with trash.

 

 


Can I read a transcript of the podcast?

Yes! You can read full transcripts for each episode by clicking on the title of the episode below. You'll also find pictures and links to articles or books mentioned in the episode, too

I have an idea for an episode. Can I tell you about it?

Yes! We're always looking for stories about our Brooklyn community, or how public libraries impact our lives. Reach out to us by emailing podcasts@bklynlibrary.org.

How do I listen?

You can listen right on our website by clicking the audio players below. You can also listen on your smart phone. All you have to do is search for “Borrowed” in your podcast app of choice, then click “subscribe” or “follow” to get new episodes downloaded to your device as soon as they come out. Or, click the buttons below to subscribe on these apps.

 

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Season 6, Episode 7

The Teens Are Offline

Meet the Luddite Club, a group of library-loving, flip-phone-toting teenagers in Brooklyn who come together every week out of a shared sense that social media and smart phones just aren't working for them. 

Check out this list of the Luddite Club's favorite books.


Season 6, Episode 6

Seeking Asylum

Asylum seekers continue to arrive in New York City. We look at how one faith-based organization is responding to the continuing crisis in the hope that these personal narratives offer a window into the experience of migrants in Brooklyn today.

Check out our list of books about migrants and asylum seekers.


Season 6, Episode 6

Buscando Asilo

Este episodio es sobre los solicitantes de asilo en la ciudad de Nueva York. Estamos compartiendo estas narrativas personales con la esperanza de que escucharlas devuelva la humanidad a esta crisis. 

Este es nuesta lista de libros sobre los migrantes y solicitantes de asilo.


Season 6, Episode 5

A Place of Refuge

Last year, New York City began to see an increase in the number of migrants seeking asylum. The library is a small part of the city-wide response to help those seeking refuge. This episode, we'll talk about library and city efforts with Manuel Castro, the Commissioner at the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Affairs.

We've put together a list of books related to the topic of this episode.


Season 6, Episode 4

What's Your Library Worth?

Did you know there are some public libraries that loan out snowshoes? And cement mixers? And Santa suits? This episode, we try to calculate what your public library is worth, and ask how you can give back to support public libraries.


Season 6, Episode 3

Go, Robots, Go!

With tablets, Legos, and coding, these fourteen teams from library branches across Brooklyn met at Central Library to compete in the final championship of Brooklyn Robotics League — resulting in what is surely one of our loudest stories ever. 

Check out our BKLYN Robotics League book list.


Season 6, Episode 2

Happily Ever After

We love love at the library, so for Valentine's Day this year, we're devoting the episode Romance Novels! We'll learn how Romance covers hint at what's between them, and chat with writer Nichole Perkins about how the genre is diversifying.

Check out our list of starter Romance Novels.


Season 6, Episode 1

La Hora Mágica

La Hora Mágica has been the heart of Sunset Park’s storytime programming for a decade now, highlighting songs and stories in Spanish and English for speakers of all different languages.

Check out these multilingual picture books for kids.


Season 5, Episode 12

Dyker Singers, Dyker Lights

Dyker Heights is a destination this time of year, with houses decked out in lights drawing visitors from all around the world. And inside Dyker Library, a strong community gathers to sing, play mahjong, do yoga, and so much more. 


Season 5, Episode 11

Rebroadcast: Work in Progress

From “the most expensive pigeon roost in the world” to one of the world’s most unique libraries, Brooklyn’s Central Library has many stories to tell. We’ll dive into the history of Central Library, hear from Brooklynites starting small businesses, and one patron’s path from homelessness to determined author.

Click here for a full list of book recommendations curated for this episode, "Work in Progress."


Learn more about Borrowed

Check out our press kit for more information about our story and our hosts, and quick links to starter episodes.