While strolling through neighborhoods throughout the United States, it has become increasingly common to stumble upon a Little Free Library — a small, often rectangular or birdhouse-shaped structure filled with free books to take at one’s leisure.
But what many don’t know is that Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that oversees more than 180,000 registered library boxes worldwide. In urban, suburban, and rural communities, Little Free Library hopes to bridge accessibility gaps in literacy.
In a new partnership with the American Library Association and PEN America, this mission is clearer than ever.
Enter: Little Free Library’s new interactive book ban map.
As book banning continues to accelerate across the U.S., this map makes it easy to find data points about book bans — and encourages library boxes to function as a “vital distribution point for these restricted books,” according to a press release.
“Banned books are welcome in Little Free Library book-sharing boxes,” said the organization’s executive director, Greig Metzger.
“Our new interactive map allows you to find both the areas hit hardest by book bans and the nearest Little Free Library box locations, where you can share books that have been censored or just books you love.”
The map shows U.S. book bans on state and county levels using a color scale to show how many book restrictions are currently enacted in a given region. For instance, users can hover over the state of Florida and find 2,647 attempted book bans.
Users can also utilize a search bar to search for specific book bans in an area.
Simultaneously, the map includes pins of Little Free Library locations, along with corresponding charter numbers to help users learn more and locate a given distribution point.
From there, users can download Little Free Library’s mobile app to search a location by its charter number, view library details, check in via a digital guest book, or add it to a “favorites” folder. On the app, users can also filter their searches with a Banned Books indicator to find a nearby location that supports this issue.
All of the data in the map is sourced from PEN America’s 2022-2023 Index of Book Bans, and the American Library Association’s Book Ban Data. That said, the map may be limited by incomplete data, and users are encouraged to report a book ban or challenge to PEN America or the ALA to help keep things up-to-date.
“PEN America is proud to have our school book ban data put to such good use,” Sabrina Baêta, the program manager for PEN America’s Freedom to Read program, said in a statement.
“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.”
The map cannot guarantee there will be a collection of banned books in any one library box, but the organization encourages its community to share these reading materials with intention.
After locating which states have been hit hardest by banned books, community members can explore a list of the most frequently challenged or banned books in the country and donate them to a nearby library box.
“The heart of our mission is to expand access to books,” Metzger said. “We hope this map inspires you to provide access to the banned books that are meaningful to you.”
Little Free Library also offers its community resources on how to fight book bans, including celebrating Banned Books Week, displaying a “This Little Free Library Shares Banned Books” sign, and adding one’s name to the ALA’s Unite Against Book Bans pledge.
“Book bans silence authors with diverse viewpoints and eliminate the chance for readers to feel seen and represented in their stories,” Metzger said in Little Free Library’s statement on book bans.
“At our core as an organization, we are book lovers who believe deeply in the power of books to share unique ideas and perspectives and ultimately enhance our human experience, understanding, and appreciation for one another. We’re hopeful that by working together, we can make a difference.”
Header image courtesy of Little Free Library
