Unbannable: How Libraries Are Ensuring Access to Banned Books

The history of book bans is the history of the fight for power. We know that, time and again, book bans seek to specifically and disproportionately silence black, brown and LGBTQIA+ authors and stories. While book bans continue across America, DPLA is proud to be part of a group of leading libraries committed to counteracting this censorship by making banned books available digitally and for free. By guaranteeing open access to these titles, we’re making books unbannable.

Last week, at the bi-annual Public Library Association Conference in Columbus, OH, DPLA convened a distinguished panel of librarians, whose institutions – from the Brooklyn to Chicago to Las Vegas – all stand in unapologetic support of intellectual freedom and are working tirelessly to push back against book bans.

Entitled Unbannable: How Libraries Are Ensuring Access to Banned Books, and moderated by San Jose’s City Librarian Jill Bourne, the jam-packed panel spotlighted library leaders from across the country, each of whom shared what they’re doing to keep books available to readers.

Brooklyn Public Library Chief Librarian Nick Higgins discussed the Books Unbanned project, which allows young adults nationwide who have suffered due to restricted access to get a library card and access the vast digital collections. “Challenges to books and ideas have always been a part of the library landscape,” said Higgans, “but recent efforts have become far more coordinated and effective, requiring libraries, schools, First Amendment advocates, community members, publishers, booksellers, parents, student, and others to become equally well-coordinated and to fight back with collective purpose. Brooklyn Public Library is so proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Chris, Jill, Kelvin, Micah, and so many others in this critical fight for the freedom to read.”

Boston Public Library, LA County Library, San Diego Public Library and Seattle Public Library have all joined Brooklyn Public LIbrary in offering access to their collection through their own Books Unbanned project. This report on the program includes powerful testimonials from some the patrons that have been impacted, including one teen who said, “This card gives me hope!”

During the session, Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown shared information about their Book Sanctuary initiative, a campaign that declares their 81 Chicago neighborhood libraries as book sanctuaries, collecting and protecting endangered books and making those titles broadly accessible. CPL also provides posters, banners and social media content to inspire and be adapted for others’ book sanctuaries. “The Book Sanctuary supports our deepest ALA principles to challenge censorship,” said Brown, “and we’re inspired to see over 3,600 libraries and people across the country–from Broward County in Florida to Harris County in Texas, even Toronto and Calgary–declare their libraries as book sanctuaries.”

Kelvin Watson, Executive Director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District spoke about efforts his district has made to meet readers where they are by closing the digital divide and making all kinds of books, banned and otherwise, accessible to populations who would otherwise not have access. “The audience was so engaged throughout this session and, with their questions, I was able to share even more additional examples of making library resources accessible with partnerships.”

I was on the panel, as well. In my capacity as DPLA’s Director of Ebook Services, I lifted up the work we’re doing through The Banned Book Club, which makes digital copies of the very books that have been banned from public libraries across the country available to readers in the specific jurisdictions where access has been unjustly cut off. 

Everyone was thrilled by the level of interest in the panel and enthusiasm from the audience.  Over half of the session was an engaging conversation with session attendees, moderated masterfully by Jill. In response to thoughtful questions, the panelists shared their challenges regarding book bans in their local areas, as well as their insights about how libraries can best support intellectual freedom and push back against book bans with resources such as Book Résumés, which is available from ALA’s United Against Book Bans project. 

It was such an honor to share the stage with Nick, Jill, Chris and Kelvin at PLA24. We at DPLA are proud that, collectively, these library projects create a kind of intellectual freedom safety net that ensures that all Americans have access to whatever they want to read, whenever they want to read it – at least digitally. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our library colleagues to protect our communities against censorship, to guarantee access to information and reading for all, and to prove that, like it or not, our books are unbannable.  

To learn more, please reach out to ebooks@dp.la.