New York’s library has given books removed from schools libraries in the United States to parents who deem them inappropriate. Brooklyn Public Library launched the Books Unbanned initiative. This allows anyone between 13 and 21 years old to receive a free ecard from the library. Holders of the card have access to 350,000 ebooks and 200,000 audiobooks.
These books include the three most frequently removed books from school bookshelves: Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe was removed in 30 districts, All Boys Aren’t Blue, by George M. Johnson was removed in 21 districts, and Lawn Boy, by Jonathan Evison was removed in 16 districts.
Book Riot, which is an Amazon affiliate, reported on the parental rights issue. It claimed that the book removals were made to target authors based upon race and sexual orientation.
The BPL also makes a selection frequently challenged books accessible with no wait time for all BPL cardholders. This includes The Black Flamingo, The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison’s The 1619 Project, Lawn Boy, and Lawn Boy, all by Jonathan Evison. These ebooks are available for reading on smartphones, computers, tablets, and e-readers.
The card is valid for one year. The card is valid for one year. (Normally, BPL library cards from outside states are subject to a $50 annual fee. However, this program waives that fee. This card can be used by teens to connect with the Intellectual Freedom Teen Council of BPL, which offers resources to combat censorship or book challenges.
Brooklyn Public Library invites teens to share videos, essays, stories, and videos about intellectual freedom and the effects that book bans and challenges have had on their lives.
Linda E. Johnson, president of the library, stated that “access to information is the great promise upon whom public libraries were founded.” She also wrote in BKReader, an online magazine with “News by Brooklyn”, “For Brooklyn” and “News by Brooklyn,” that “we cannot sit idly by as books rejected by a few are removed for all.” Books UnBanned is an antidote against censorship. It will offer teens and young adults throughout the country unlimited access and free audiobooks and ebooks from our vast collection, even those that may be banned in their homes libraries.
