During Banned Books Week, this year September 22–28, LJ has seen a wide range of libraries celebrating the right to read in their communities: public, K–12, and academic; urban and rural; large and small—and, now, little. Little Free Libraries, the birdhouse-sized book exchange structures scattered across neighborhoods around the world, have joined forces with the American Library Association (ALA) and PEN America to encourage the distribution of banned books in the areas they’re needed most.

The Little Free Library (LFL) nonprofit has registered more than 180,000 little libraries since 2009—about half are sold as premade or kit units, and half are home-built versions whose makers purchased a charter sign to be part of the LFL network. Each one has a unique number and, if their owners, or “stewards,” wish, are mapped on the Little Free Library World Map, which lists their locations with GPS coordinates. LFL stewards maintain their libraries, stocking them with books that passersby can take, exchange, or add to. There are currently more than 71,000 mapped LFL book-sharing boxes in the United States. 

Anyone interested in accessing or sharing challenged books can consult LFL’s interactive Book Ban Map, which shows the areas of the United States hit hardest by book bans and the nearest LFL locations. Users can search book ban numbers by state, which returns ALA data, or by county, which gives PEN America data. A closer zoom shows the location and Charter Number of individual LFLs.

Stewards have full control over what information about them is shared on the LFL mobile app, such as whether they have recently added books or need donations, and can label their book exchange with a Banned Books indicator. They can also purchase physical signs stating “This Little Free Library Shares Banned Books” or download a printable window sign or social media graphics.

LFL will also be partnering with Penguin Random House for the second voyage of the Banned Wagon, a delivery truck visiting cities in the Midwest and South that have seen high numbers of book bans and challenges. Along the way, the Banned Wagon will be making stops at LFLs to donate books. Book giveaway bundles , sponsored by Simon & Schuster and HarperCollins, are available through September 30.

GETTING LFLS ON THE MAP

LFL has been a sponsoring member of the Banned Books Week coalition since 2023. This year, as September neared and members were considering how to expand the organization’s involvement, Director of Digital Strategy Megan Hanson—who led the mobile app implementation in 2022—looked over ALA and PEN America’s numbers. She saw that finding information about book bans in a given neighborhood or county wasn’t simple, and proposed a book ban map that would combine those statistics with LFL locations.

“Book banning isn’t just a Florida or Texas issue. Book bans and challenges may be happening right where you live, and the Book Ban Map lets you explore the data in your state and your county,” Director of Communications Margret Aldrich told LJ. “The team thought it would be incredibly useful not only understanding where book bans are happening, but also if there are Little Free Libraries nearby, and those libraries could then be stocked with books that are banned and challenged.”

The team—Aldrich, Hanson, Steward Services Manager Marshall Kruger, and Data Analyst Sam Hickman—had the combined skills necessary to create such a map without much difficulty. Hickman was comfortable working with ALA and PEN America’s data, and Kruger turned out to have a background in cartography. Sabrina Baêta, PEN America Freedom to Read program manager, and Eric Stroshane, assistant director of member services at ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, gave LFL permission to use their data—and were “enthusiastic and really excited to see this map take shape,” Aldrich added.

With the help of a web developer who works with LFL on special projects, the team built and uploaded the interactive choropleth map for less than $200, and announced it on September 4.

Keeping stewards’ safety in mind, the organizations agreed not to provide addresses or personal information on the map, although all locations correspond with LFL’s global map, which lists whatever information LFL owners choose to provide. They can request that the team remove their libraries from the Book Ban Map—but, noted Aldrich, as of press time no one has asked to be taken off.

“Our philosophy with our stewards is that we really trust them to curate their Little Free Libraries as they see fit, as best serves their communities,” said Aldrich. Some have been preparing for Banned Books Week all year, stocking up on the titles they want to add. Others are “supportive, but not enthusiasts when it comes to this subject.” Those who are interested but don’t know where to start can request a list of banned books in all 50 states.

LFL participants have been enthusiastic about the project, and the map was viewed more than 23,000 times before Banned Books Week even began.

“By making this map showing where bans are happening across the country, we hope to bring more awareness to the issue, and by overlaying the locations of Little Free Libraries across the country, we hope to create more access to banned and challenged books,” said Aldrich. “We’re happy for the stewards that are decorating their Little Free Libraries, stocking them with banned books, and helping to increase awareness.”