In celebration of National Library Week 2026, which runs from April 19 through April 25, Stony Brook University Libraries is hosting a series of events to highlight the essential role libraries play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. Sponsored by the American Library Association since 1958, this annual event celebrates library workers and promotes library use.

National Library Week Events

Faculty Book Talk: Book and Dagger by Elyse Graham
Monday, April 20, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Melville Library E-2340, Special Collections Seminar Room

Join English Professor Elyse Graham in a conversation about her latest book, Book and Dagger, which reveals the untold true story of historians and librarians who were recruited as spies in World War II.

(Un)Banning Toni Morrison Documentary and Panel Discussion
Wednesday, April 22, 12:30 pm to 1:50 pm
Melville Library E-2340, Special Collections Seminar Room

Ileana Jiménez, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of English, and her students present a screening of their documentary, (Un)Banning Toni Morrison, with a student-led panel discussion to follow. This film screening and discussion explores the implications of teaching Morrison's most banned novel, The Bluest Eye (1970). As part of an SBU undergraduate course on Morrison held in Spring 2025, students created this 38-minute documentary to address the politics of banned books during this current political climate.

Critiquing AI
Monday, April 20, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Online

Join librarian Christine Fena for an interactive workshop that invites you to explore AI tools firsthand, not just as users, but as critical investigators. Through playful experimentation and collaborative discovery, you'll uncover inherent biases, probe algorithmic flaws and gain a deeper understanding of AI's limitations and societal impacts.
Register here for Critiquing AI.

More information and additional Stony Brook University Libraries events can be found on the library website.