With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
How To Get A Banned Book In California
A close up of a book case full of colorful books.
(
Alexis Hunley
/
LAist
)
Topline:
Banned Books Week begins Oct. 1. The annual celebration honors access to free information, and the L.A. County Library is launching the Books Unbanned digital card. It’ll be for teens ages 13 to 18 in California to access frequently banned books.
How the card works: “Our Books Unbanned card is a new digital card that is designed to offer teens 13 to 18 years old throughout the state of California access to books that they might not otherwise have access to because of book challenges or the removals of titles from their libraries or schools,” said Jesse Walker-Lanz, assistant director of public services for the L.A. County Library. The teenagers will have free and unrestricted access to the library’s entire digital eBook and audiobook collection. They can check out up to five books at a time.
The backstory: Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Janice Hahn passed a motion in June directing the L.A. County Library to expand access to library cards to teenagers across California. This way, teenagers living in places where books are banned can have access to the digital titles.
Sponsored message
Why it matters: Books that include LGBTQIA+ and critical race theory content have increasingly come under fire. In April, the Murrietta school board rejected similar books because they said it negatively portrayed former President Donald Trump and contained critical race theory elements. In May, Temecula’s school board rejected social studies books because they contained a section about Harvey Milk, California's first openly gay elected public official. These book bans resulted in a law signed on Monday by Gov. Gavin Newsom that will fine schools that ban books based solely on the inclusion of race, gender, or other identity groups.
To sign up: Teens can visit the website to apply.
Read more ... to learn about book bans in 2023 and Newsom’s new law.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
