Books Unbanned
Boston Public Library supports the rights of teens nationwide to read what they like without censorship.
Teens and young adults ages 13 to 26 who live in the United States can now sign up for a free Books Unbanned eCard from the BPL that allows them access to the BPL’s collection of frequently challenged and banned eBooks and eAudiobooks.
Discover Yourself
A significant number of prohibited or contested books revolve around the experiences, stories, histories, and movements of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), or LGBTQ+ individuals. Engaging with these literary works can facilitate self-awareness and foster connections with others.
Form Your Own Opinions & Get Involved
Started by Brooklyn Public Library, Books Unbanned is an initiative in response to an increasingly coordinated and effective effort to remove books tackling a wide range of topics from library shelves. Boston Public Library is the third library to join this initiative and make our collection available to teens and young adults facing book bans, censorship and political challenges in their local school and public libraries. Explore below to learn more about Books Unbanned, intellectual freedom, and how you can fight for the rights of teens nationwide to read what they like, discover themselves and form their own opinions.
Boston Public Library Books Unbanned FAQs
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Anyone ages 13-26 living in the United States can get a BPL Books Unbanned card. If you live, work, own property, or attend school in Massachusetts, you should apply for a Boston Public Library physical card or eCard to get access to our collection and resources. Get started with a Boston Public Library card.
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You can check out up to 10 books at a time and put up to 10 books on hold.
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You can borrow books for 14 days, and checkouts expire automatically.
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Your card will be valid for one year, with the possibility of renewal.
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This card only gives you access to our eBook and eAudiobook collection.
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Our collection has different titles than these libraries' collections, and some titles that are not available in their collection may be available in ours, or vice versa. You are welcome to apply for all the cards and access any collection to find the books you need.
Get a Brooklyn Public Library Books Unbanned card.
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No. If you live or work in Massachusetts, you should apply for a Boston Public Library card to get access to our collection and resources. Get started with a Boston Public Library card.
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No. This card is intended for teens and young adults ages 13 to 26 who do not have a Boston Public Library card. Get started with a Boston Public Library card.
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No. As part of our commitment to intellectual freedom, we protect your privacy and keep information about you and your use of the Library confidential. Confidentiality extends to all records with identifying information about you, including your requests for materials and borrowing history. We will not disclose individual patron information except as necessary for the proper operation of the Library, upon your consent or as required by law. We do aggregate and analyze collective patron data to understand and help us fulfill community interest. Read our Patron Privacy Policy.
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Boston Public Library's Books Unbanned card will be funded by private support through The Boston Public Library Fund. If you are interested in supporting Books Unbanned, please consider contributing through the BPL Fund.
Boston Public Library supports the rights of teens nationwide to read what they like without censorship.
The BPL’s Books Unbanned initiative is funded through private support raised by the Boston Public Library Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Boston Public Library. To learn more about how we are supporting teens and young adults nationwide with free and open access to the BPL’s wide-ranging digital collections, please visit the Fund's website.
