SEATTLE — The Seattle Public Library is now the second library in the nation to give teens across the country access to the library's online books.
They are doing this through the “Books Unbanned” program they launched last week in response to book bans at schools and libraries in other parts of the country. The library was able to do this through private funding.
“It’s concerning for us as a public library because intellectual freedom and access are really core principles for us,” said Andrew Harbison, the director of Library Programs and Services at the Seattle Public Library. “We want to ensure that there is open and free access to information and ideas.”
The “Books Unbanned” program allows teens to sign up for a free membership that gives them access to online books and audiobooks. In just the first week, the Seattle Public Library had more than 1,500 teens sign up for the program and had nearly 1,200 items checked out.
