The recent uptick in banned books has inspired some to take action.
Scribd, the subscription service that offers an enormous digital library of e-books and audiobooks, is making banned books more accessible to audiences that are suffering the difficulties of these restrictions. It's also working on an idea that gets physical copies of some of these all-important titles into the hands of readers who need them most.
Scribd has teamed up with author and podcaster Ryan Holiday, who also owns The Painted Porch Bookshop, an independent bookstore in Bastrop, Texas. Together, they're bringing The Banned Bookmobile to town to provide titles offering diverse perspectives, like Not My Idea by Anastasia Higginbotham, King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, and New Kid by Jerry Craft.
The Banned Bookmobile will be at The Painted Porch Bookshop at 912 Main St. in Bastrop, Texas, on Thursday, February 17, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT and Saturday, February 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT. Those unable to attend can access banned books through Scribd. The service is currently offering its entire digital library free for 30 days with no credit card or commitment required.
"Scribd was created to change the way the world reads, but recently the freedom to read diverse topics has come under attack with an alarming uptick in books being banned in school and public libraries," shared Trip Adler, Scribd founder and chief executive officer.
"That's why we partnered with Ryan Holiday, who owns an independent bookstore, to stand up against book banning by distributing print books outside his store."
"America has a lot of problems but people reading books is not one of them. I'm appalled by this campaign to ban or remove books from school libraries and as a bookseller, it's my obligation to do something about it," said Holiday of the events.
"I'm really excited that Scribd has helped make these books accessible not just here in Bastrop, Texas but across the country."
If you're signing up online, visit Scribd here to see some of the books being banned and get started on your own reading journey.
