Books Unbanned

The Brooklyn Public Library is making e-books available to students around the United States for free. The name of the program is “Books Unbanned” and is aimed to provide younger people with content that may be banned in their school district, local libraries, county, or state.

On the Brooklyn Public Library’s website, it was mentioned that most of the books that were banned were by or about LGBTQIA+ persons, by or about people of different ethnic backgrounds (BPL). The program is available for free to people between the ages of 13 and 21. Students can apply for a library eCard by emailing [email protected] to gain access to the full eBook database. 

While some schools and districts are embracing the new program, the program is still controversial and there has been a case where a teacher was placed on leave for promoting the program to her students in Oaklahoma. 

“I think it’s a great idea that the Brooklyn Public Library is giving digital access to banned books because knowledge is power,” said Tynelle Olivas, an English teacher at Sultana High School. “Stephen King said,  ‘Only tyrants and narcissists want to keep the general public ignorant and uninformed.’”

A librarian at Sultana High School, Mrs. Gale stated “I think its a good idea, no books should be banned.”