Books Unbanned, the Brooklyn Public Library initiative launched in 2022 to give young people access to books affected by censorship, has hit a major milestone: cardholders have borrowed over one million e-books.
The growing coalition, which now includes the Seattle Public Library, Boston Public Library, LA County Public Library, San Diego Public Library and the newest partner, Long Beach Public Library, has issued more than 51,000 free digital library cards to teens and young adults across all 50 states. Together, those cardholders have borrowed over one million e-books.
“The very mission of a public library is to support the right of every individual to seek information from all points of view without restriction. Limiting access is a threat to democracy itself,” said Linda E. Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the Brooklyn Public Library.
The program was created in response to an escalating, coordinated push to remove certain titles from library shelves nationwide. Since 2020, the American Library Association has tracked a record-breaking surge in book challenges, many targeting works like The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison and Maus by Art Spiegelman.
The majority of banned or challenged books center the experiences of people of color and the LGBTQIA+ community, making teens the most affected group. For many, Books Unbanned has become a lifeline to stories that reflect their identities and experiences.
One Georgia teen shared that their school library had been “entirely cleared out,” while nearby public libraries continued to remove LGBTQIA+ media. Others say the program has helped them feel seen, understood, and connected through literature.
To learn more about the program or to sign up for a Books Unbanned library card from any of the participating libraries, visit http://booksunbanned.com/.
