The Boston Public Library (BPL) has recently joined the "Books Unbanned" initiative, providing teens and young adults across the United States free access to their extensive digital collection. Launched by the Brooklyn Public Library in 2022, the BPL now aligns with the Seattle Public Library in their commitment to intellectual freedom, as reported by the Boston Globe.
Those residing in the US between ages 13 and 26 are eligible for a complimentary Boston Public Library e-card, granting them uninhibited access to e-books and digital audiobooks that might otherwise have been unavailable at their local institutions. As noted in an InfoDocket article, the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom has reported a 20 percent increase in efforts to censor library books and resources since early 2023. Thus, Books Unbanned arrives as a timely response to this surge, reaffirming the protection of intellectual access and diversity of perspectives.
BPL President David Leonard said, "By joining this initiative, we embrace the opportunity to champion the principle of access for individuals across the nation who face limitations in reaching content and are unable to advocate for themselves." Echoing his sentiments, Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library, emphasized the importance of ensuring "that every young person in the nation has free and open access to books from all points of view," according to WBZ NewsRadio.
The Books Unbanned initiative is funded by the Boston Public Library Fund, celebrating the ethos of access to knowledge without borders. In a grand display of solidarity, the BPL is hosting "Let Freedom Read: Statewide Read-In to Fight Censorship" on September 30 at its Central Library in Copley Square, as reported by InfoDocket.
