Little Free Library, the St. Paul, Minn.–based nonprofit organization, has partnered with the American Library Association and PEN America to produce an interactive map in response to the nationwide surge in efforts to ban books from public and school libraries. The map includes two key features: highlights, indicating where book bans are in effect at the state and county levels and to what degree, and pinpoints, indicating the locations of Little Free Library’s book-sharing containers of the same name.
The purpose of this initiative, per a release, is “to reveal the wide-spread epidemic of book banning” and “position little free libraries as vital distribution points for these restricted books,” of which, according to the ALA, there were a record 4,240 unique titles as of 2023. (There are more than 180,000 LFL-branded little free libraries all over the world, 71,000 of which are in the U.S.)
“Banned books are welcome in LFL book-sharing boxes," said executive director Greig Metzger. "Our new interactive map allows you to find both the areas hit hardest by book bans and the nearest LFL box locations, so you can share books that have been censored or just books you love.” After all, he added, “the heart of our mission is to expand access to books.”
The map was developed by LFL in collaboration with the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and PEN America. ALA provided state-level data on books banned or challenged in school and public libraries, while PEN America provided county-level data on books banned or challenged in schools.
"PEN America is proud to have our school book ban data put to such good use,” said Sabrina Baêta, PEN America Freedom to Read program manager. “As we look to turn the page on book bans, it's important we find ways to keep books in the hands of our communities — in our schools, our libraries, and in this case, our sidewalks.”
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