Philly’s Little Free(dom) Libraries Fight Back Against Book Bans

When we think of book bans, we don’t typically think of Pennsylvania. Maybe we should.

The Little Free(dom) Libraries launched during Black History Month as a collaboration between The Philadelphia Public Library, Little Free Library, and Visit Philadelphia. Originally, the thirteen little libraries placed around the city featured banned books by Black authors. The books featured in these little libraries were intentionally selected in partnership with Visit Philadelphia and community organizations, small businesses, and local leaders. The books were purchased from Black-owned bookstores such as Harriet’s Bookshop, Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books, Black and Nobel, Hakim’s Bookstore & Gift Shop, and The Black Reserve Bookstore. The vibrant artwork on these libraries was created by Philly native Alloyius Mcilwaine.

Since their launch in February of this year, the Little Free(dom) Libraries have expanded their offerings to include more voices, heritages, orientations, and identities. Books like Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor are now joined by books like The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition by Anne Frank, Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed, and American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. More stories from more communities who are also marginalized and unfortunately find themselves on banned books lists throughout the country.

The little libraries are more than a nice gesture. They are an intentional effort to combat those book bans and challenges, and it matters, especially in Pennsylvania. The Keystone State recently became one of the epicenters for book bans and challenges. According to the American Library Association, Pennsylvania ranked in the top five states for book challenges since 2020. In 2023 alone, the Keystone State saw 218 instances of book challenges.

Central York School District made news when an entire list of materials, including picture books such as Sulwe by Lupita Nyongo, the critically acclaimed Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, and Mae Among the Stars by Rhoda Ahmed, a book about astronaut Mae Jamison, all were banned through a unanimous decision by its school board. A four-page document that included everything from picture books to novels, articles to documentaries was sent to educators, barring dozens of pieces of content from being used in classes. Only through the combined efforts of parents, community members, school staff, and especially the district’s students did the board relent and reverse the ban.

Central Bucks School District, the state’s third largest school district, faced an oppressive set of library rules that called for the removal of any books deemed “inappropriate”, yet never specified what “inappropriate” could mean. The ambiguity was the point. Ambiguity allows for completely innocuous books, such as picture books that center marginalized people, to end up challenged. Once those books are challenged, they are removed from shelves pending a review period. That period could take days, it could take weeks or longer. However long that period is, that book is unavailable, thus creating a de facto ban. Once again, a community of librarians, educators, parents, and students organized to combat the restrictive library policies. Later in the year, the majority of the school board that created the library policy was voted out.

Pennridge School District, located a mere 30 minutes from Philadelphia, was recently embroiled in a cover-up of the removal of dozens of books. The school board was accused of removing books with no oversight and zero processes. It took a coalition of affected families, the Bucks County NAACP, and other community organizations to bring awareness to the removal of those works.

There are many more stories like this around our state. That is why The Little Free(dom) Libraries and efforts like them matter. They put the books that racist, misogynistic, homophobic, ableist people who happen to occupy spaces of leadership don’t want folks to have access to. Through efforts like the little libraries, communities have direct access to these works that amplify the voices, experiences, and stories of those too often pushed to the margins by hate.

Show your support. Here is a list of the current Little Libraries locations throughout Philadelphia:

Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street

Columbia North YMCA, 1400 N. Broad Street

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, 2027 Fairmount Avenue

Faheem’s Hands of Precision, 2100 S. 20th Street

Frankford Community Development Corporation, 4667 Paul Street

Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th Street

Historic Germantown, 5501 Germantown Avenue

Johnson House Historic Site, 6306 Germantown Avenue

Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, 419 S. 6th Street

Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

The Independence Visitor Center, 599 Market Street

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad Street

South Street Street Off Center, 407 South Street