The Seattle Central Library, home to approximately 2.9 million books, profoundly impacts local residents by providing valuable resources and facilities. However, its dedication to preserving banned and challenged books reaches thousands across the country.
As the number of controversial books increases, so do book bans, preventing readers from reading certain books. “In recent years, we’ve seen unprecedented levels of censorship,” said Elisa Murray, the library’s digital communications strategist. Books Unbanned, an organization started in 2022 by the Brooklyn Public Library, is nearing the second anniversary of its partnership with the Seattle Central Library, and its work has had immense impacts on readers in Seattle and across the country. Books Unbanned allows cardholders aged 13 to 26 to access their entire collection of e-books and audiobooks, many of which were written by or about Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), or LGBTQ+ people. These books are more likely to be challenged due to the marginalized groups and topics that they explore.
The service has allowed many readers to read books that their schools, local libraries, or even state legislation have deemed inappropriate. According to a 2024 report, an inability to access representative materials can “exacerbate feelings of isolation and the sense that [readers’] identities are under attack.” The report also found that many cardholders live in communities with no libraries, and the Books Unbanned collection is their main source of access to books. “My mom is disabled and can’t always drive me to the library whenever I want, we also don’t have any extra money to buy books I want to read,” said a 17-year-old from Wisconsin in a testimonial for the report.
Books Unbanned’s audiobook collection also accommodates those who are dyslexic or visually impaired. “I am severely visually impaired and can’t read physical book copies. Having a wide selection of audiobooks and accessible ebooks helps me access the same amount of literature as my sighted peers,” said a 15-year-old Washingtonian in his testimonial.
Readers without any barriers to access also appreciate the Books Unbanned card and its wide collection of content. “I have been reading more than I ever have in my life since I got this card,” said a 13-year-old in North Carolina. The service has over eight thousand cardholders across all 50 states and territories such as Guam, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. These readers have checked out over 250 thousand books as of 2024.
Local readers continue to check out these books at the Central Library. “Not finding … banned books on our shelves is actually a good thing, because it indicates that there is still a high demand for these banned books and they are beloved by our community,” said Librarian Genesee Rickel.
“The freedom to read is the freedom to explore and uncover worlds that were previously unknown. It is the ability to understand the important conversations being discussed around you, and the decisions that are being made on the Congress floor,” said a 16-year-old from Georgia. “To have the freedom to read taken away is equivalent to taking away the ability to see, to talk, to listen, to understand, to be compassionate, and to be informed. How can one learn if they are restricted to a certain selection of books?”
