[Link] Readers Can Now Access Books Banned in Their Area for Free With New App

Based on users’ locations, the Banned Book Club provides e-book editions of titles banned in nearby libraries

by Christopher Parker

As book bans spike nationwide, access to particular texts varies tremendously depending on where readers are located. “If you’re after a particular title by Toni Morrison or Margaret Atwood,” writes Literary Hub’s Janet Manley, “you might find that it’s available in Georgia, and effectively banned next door in Florida.” 

A new program aims to change that: Earlier this month, the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) launched the Banned Book Club, which provides users with free access to titles pulled from the shelves of local libraries.

“Today book bans are one of the greatest threats to our freedom,” says John S. Bracken, executive director of the DPLA, in a statement. “We have created the Banned Book Club to leverage the dual powers of libraries and digital technology to ensure that every American can access the books they want to read.”

The app uses “GPS-based geo-targeting” to stock virtual libraries across the country. After visiting TheBannedBookClub.info to see a list of titles banned in their area, readers can download those books for free via the Palace e-reader app.

Read the full article: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/banned-book-club-app-180982592/