Banned Books

FOR THE 3RD YEAR IN A ROW, FLORIDA LEADS THE NATION IN THE NUMBER OF BOOKS BANNED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT'S ACCORDING TO PEN AMERICA. THAT'S A GROUP THAT CHAMPIONS THIS FREEDOM TO WRITE AND FIGHT CENSORSHIP IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IN FLORIDA, THOUSANDS OF TITLES HAVE BEEN REMOVED OR RESTRICTED. BUT NOW PARENTS AND STUDENTS CAN ACCESS. SOME OF THOSE BANNED BOOKS AS PART OF A NATIONWIDE PROGRAM. >> KIDS AND PARENTS WHO ARE PLANNING FOR SUMMER VACATION SHOULD KNOW ABOUT 2 VERY IMPORTANT READING PROGRAMS. WGCUS KERRY BARBOR IS HERE TO TELL US ALL ABOUT THAT. KERRY, WHY ARE THESE PROGRAMS SO IMPORTANT IN FLORIDA? >> WELL, AS YOU MAY KNOW, FLORIDA IS THE NUMBER ONE STATE FOR BANNED BOOKS. THE STATE HAS BANNED NEARLY 9,000 BOOKS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SINCE 2021. SO THIS PROGRAM CALLED BOOKS ON BAND CAN HELP BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A FREE DIGITAL LIBRARY CARD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. AND THEN THEY CAN TAKE OUT ELECTRONIC AUDIO MATERIALS FROM ANY OF 6 PARTICIPATING LIBRARIES NATIONWIDE FOR EXAMPLE, A BOOK CALLED DREAMING IN CUBAN BY CRISTINA GARCIA IS BANNED IN LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS, BUT THEY COULD GET A BOOKS AND BAN CAR AND TAKE THE E-BOOK AND AUDIOBOOK OUT FROM THE BOOK BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY. IT'S VERY INTERESTING WHAT LIBRARIES ARE INVOLVED ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. USE IT. >> IT WAS STARTED BY BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY, BUT NOW PARTICIPATING. BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, LA COUNTY LIBRARY, SAN DIEGO, PUBLIC LIBRARY, SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA PUBLIC LIBRARY. SO THESE ARE THESE ARE LIBRARIES WITH HUGE COLLECTIONS. >> YOU HAVE TO LIVE NEAR THE LIBRARY TO BE ABLE TO GET A CARD. YOU DO NOT. YOU CAN JUST GO. THEY HAVE DIFFERENT. >> AGES OF IT ALL STARTED AGE 13 AND THE LA COUNTY LIBRARIES FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ONLY ALL THE REST ARE JUST OPEN TO ANY U.S. RESIDENT OVER 13 FOR TEBOW DONE HEIMER OF THE BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY TOLD ME THAT BROOKLYN LIBRARY ALONE HAS HAD MORE THAN 12,000 PEOPLE APPLY FROM ALL 50 STATES AND THEY'VE CHECKED OUT ALMOST HALF A MILLION ITEMS. >> HOW DOES SOMEONE GET A CARD? HOW ARE THEY ABLE TO DO THAT? YOU CAN JUST GO TO BOOKS ON BAND DOT COM. >> AND YOU HIT THE LINK FOR GET A CARD AND APPLY FOR ANY THAT YOU QUALIFY FOR. AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT >> CERTAINLY HELPS INSPIRE READING. I KNOW. I KNOW I LOVE THIS PROGRAM. >> I DID 2. I DID TO ITS THE PIZZA HUT BOOK. IT PROGRAM. SO YOU ARE NOT. >> PERSONAL PAN PIZZAS FOR YOUR READING IN THE SUMMER. >> AND YOUR APPARENT CAN SET YOUR GOAL. AND THEN IT'S NOT BY HOW MANY BOOKS YOU READ, BUT IT'S HOW LONG YOU READ FOR EACH DAY. SO THIS IS JUST A GREAT PROGRAM. THE KIDS CAN EARN TREATS BY READING. IT'S A WONDERFUL WAY TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO READ AND HELPS PARENTS TO PLANNING FOR BILLS IN THE SUMMER. IT DOESN'T LAST. >> IT'S A WIN WIN. YES, IT IS. THANK YOU, KERRI FOR JOINING SOME INFORMATION. THANKS SO