Seattle library’s program challenging banned books tops 1 million teen e-book checkouts
SEATTLE — With Banned Books Week 2026 (Oct. 4-10) approaching, the Seattle Public Library’s Books Unbanned program has passed a major milestone: more than 1 million e-book checkouts by teens and young adults.
The library said young people from all 50 states have checked out 1.1 million e-books and e-audiobooks since the program launched in 2023.
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The Books Unbanned e-card is available to anyone ages 13 to 26 anywhere in the United States outside of the library’s service area, and the program is funded entirely by donors to The Seattle Public Library Foundation.
Donors have invested nearly $900,000 since 2023 to sustain and grow the program, according to the library and foundation. The funding comes as public libraries across the country face rising book challenges and, in some places, reduced support.
Books Unbanned is designed to give young people multiple ways to access digital books regardless of where they live or what their local library can provide. The library said some participants sign up because their local libraries have been censored or underfunded, because they live in rural areas where getting to a library requires significant travel or costs, or because of other barriers such as disability.
“I think about the kid I was, looking for a book that would tell me it was okay to be who I am. That’s exactly who this program is for. We’re proud to fund a program that puts a book in the hands of a young person who needs it, no matter where they live or what their local library can offer,” said Brian Lawrence, CEO of The Seattle Public Library Foundation. “I’m so proud that our donors have stepped up to provide 100% of the funding for more than 1 million checkouts. It says so much about our values as a community.”
Books Unbanned began with the Brooklyn Public Library in 2022 in response to what the library described as an increasingly coordinated political effort to remove books from library shelves around the country. Seattle was the second library to join, launching its program with donor funding in 2023. The coalition has since expanded to include Boston Public Library, San Diego Public Library, LA County Library, and Long Beach Public Library.
The Seattle Public Library said its Books Unbanned cardholders come from all 50 states and several U.S. territories. The most sign-ups have come from Texas, California, and Florida, with Washington state ranking sixth. Utah, Idaho, and Alaska have the most sign-ups per capita, according to the library.
The library also shared testimonials from cardholders about why they signed up, including one 19-year-old in Washington who said, “There are books I can’t read in my local state, and liberties taken away from me due to politics. I appreciate the ability to read what I choose. Thanks.”
A 17-year-old in West Virginia said, “My high school removed its library, and my local library branch is very small with a limited selection. This card will help me access more books.”
A 20-year-old in Georgia said, “I think it is important to form your own opinions based on the knowledge and life experiences you take in. The fact that people are trying to prevent me from reading something is absolutely outrageous. I applied for this library card to expand my knowledge and come to my own conclusions about what is good for me. That is up to me to decide, not anyone else.”
More information about the program, including how to sign up for a Books Unbanned e-card from The Seattle Public Library or other participating libraries, is available HERE.
Banned Books Week, launched in 1982 by the American Library Association, highlights free and open access to information and brings together the book community in support of the freedom to seek, access and express ideas.
