Due to right-wing censorship campaigns a number of school and public libraries across the US have been forced to censor their collections, preventing younger readers from accessing reading materials deemed unsuitable by a vocal minority of people who believe that freedom of choice when it comes to reading should be decided by themselves and no-one else. The Brooklyn Public Library took the lead in championing the right of tees to choose freely with their nationwide Books Unbanned program. They have been joined by a number of other library services in making their digital collections available to readers who live in areas where their freedom to choose what to read has been curtailed.
You can access the Books Unbanned services below.
In April 2022, Brooklyn Public Library joined those fighting for the rights of teens nationwide to read what they like, discover themselves, and form their own opinions. Inspired by the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement, Books Unbanned is a response to an increasingly coordinated and effective effort to remove books from library shelves.
The following libraries have joined Books Unbanned as crucial partners in defending and expanding the freedom to read.
