At an unprecedented level, educational freedom in America is in peril.
Nationwide book bans have soared, with challenges to books having reportedly doubled in 2022 since the previous year. The freedom to read and learn is in question, however, as the creator of The 1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones, says, “Finding joy in the midst of these book bans is easy because…communities and particularly young people are fighting back, are demanding a freedom to read and learn and be uncomfortable.”
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Where you can read banned books for free
Amongst the many communities and libraries fighting for this fundamental right, is The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), which created The Banned Book Club in July 2023, cementing the believe that “readers everywhere should be able to access the books they want to read.” Powered by the Palace Project, a non-profit dedicated to broadening access to library resources and books, the book club has worked to revoke bans and restore access to every piece of literature that has been questioned in America.
The virtual libraries established by the DPLA use GPS-based geo-targeting to track and record books banned by location. In locations where certain books are banned, the Banned Book Club makes these books free to access. The club’s list of banned books is largely based on the database put together for EveryLibrary by Dr. Tasslyn Magnusson. Users can also report book bans to the organization.
In honor of National Banned Book Week, which runs from Oct. 1 to 7, the Banned Book Club has made its presence known in the state of Texas, which is being touted as the banned book capital of the country. Last year, Texas made the most attempts to restrict or outright ban books, many of which have focused on sexuality, gender identity, or race. To make a statement, the organization has created travelling billboards that have been placed in front of landmarks like the University of Texas, the state capitol in Austin, and the Llano County Public Library – the latter sitting at the center of an ongoing battle against free speech.
Credit: The Banned Book Club.
“Every time a book is banned from a library, we’re going to help put it right back,” reads the Banned Book Club’s website. “Our mission is to provide anyone who is in a library that has banned a book access to the digital version for free.”
For users, this process begins with a simple virtual library card, which opens the doors to a wide-ranging library with a simple focus. Here’s how to get started.
Step 1:
Download the Palace Project app.
This is available in the App Store or on Google Play.
Step 2:
Search for the Banned Book Club.
Credit: The Palace Project.
Step 3:
Click on the Settings icon at the bottom right.
Here, “Banned Book Club” should appear.
Step 4:
Create your library card.
Click on “Create Card” under the Banned Book Club page and fill out the instructions.
Credit: The Palace Project.
Step 5:
Verify your email.
You will receive an email from the app asking you to click a verification link.
Step 6:
Return to the Palace app and log in using the library barcode number and your password.
The number was provided via the verification email.
Step 7:
Download your first book, and begin reading.
You can check out up to five titles at a time. Each book can be checked out for 21 days.