More than 28,000 young people across the United States have obtained a Seattle Public Library (SPL) library card as part of the "Books Unbanned" campaign opposing book bans. Launched in 2022 by the Brooklyn Public Library, the program gives teens and young adults from areas with underfunded library systems free access to e-books — even if they don't live in Seattle. "The best way to fight censorship is to offer more books than are being banned," said SPL Chief Librarian Tom Fay.
Public libraries in Boston, Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego also took part in the program. Any teen or young adult aged 13 to 26 living in the U.S. can apply for an SPL card and use the digital catalog through the Libby app. This mobile app from OverDrive allows registered users to borrow e-books and audiobooks for free, providing instant access to millions of titles without visiting a library. Libby has become a key tool in the fight against censorship because it ensures anonymous borrowing: libraries do not disclose readers' personal data, and the app itself doesn't track reading history. That makes it possible to access books that might be banned in local schools or libraries, circumventing restrictions and protecting freedom to read. Since its launch, Seattle Public Library has renewed more than 18,000 such cards annually in 2023 and afterward. Funding for the project, $350,000–$375,000 per year, is provided by the Seattle Public Library Foundation — a nonprofit partner.
This August, Seattle residents will vote on a new levy that would add $480 million to the library's budget over seven years. The funds are planned for expanded hours, increased security, building upgrades and the creation of a new inclusivity department. About $69 million would go toward expanding collections and preserving fine-free access. For the average homeowner, the levy would amount to roughly $193 per year. In the U.S., public libraries are primarily funded through local taxes, such as property taxes or special levies that residents approve in referendums. The $193-per-year levy is an example of such voter-approved funding. These dollars pay staff salaries, buy books and digital resources, and maintain buildings. The practice is common because it provides stable, predictable funding directly tied to community will rather than federal political decisions.
The Seattle Public Library, which turned 135 this year, comprises 27 branches and recorded 12.5 million checkouts. In 2025 it had 3.4 million visitors. According to library leadership, the "Books Unbanned" program has already proven effective — as evidenced by numerous grateful reader responses. As Tom Fay notes, the cost of fighting censorship is an investment in getting people back into reading.
Based on: 28K youths got a Seattle library card in campaign against book bans