Freedom to Read Campaign
Broward County Library
Innovation Synopsis
In response to statewide legislation surrounding banned and challenged books, Broward County Library (BCL) launched a multi-media “Freedom to Read” public information campaign designed to raise awareness of and provide access to banned or challenged books. It featured “I Read Banned Books” collateral materials; the installation of book sanctuaries (designated areas in libraries where restricted titles are promoted and protected) in all BCL locations; a virtual book sanctuary on the library website, social media posts; media relations; programming; written and videotaped Director’s Messages; articles and content in library magazines and e-newsletters; and programming. The results include two national and one statewide award for championing intellectual freedom and eight national creative honors for the campaign, as well as local, state, and national media coverage that’s led to increased awareness of the issue and BCL’s role in protecting and promoting the right to read for all.
Challenge/Opportunity
According to data released by ALA in March 2024, Florida leads the nation in books challenged for removal. Florida lawmakers have enacted legislation targeting “inappropriate” books. Broward County Library system has 37 locations and over one million library card holders. It serves the diverse, multicultural, and multilingual 1.9 million residents of Broward County. Broward County residents faced the potential for book bans and challenges. It became imperative for BCL to tackle this issue. BCL’s response was the Freedom to Read campaign, a multi-faceted campaign encompassing marketing, media relations, public relations, print media, social media, promotional giveaways and programming to raise awareness in Broward residents of the issue and BCL’s role in promoting and protecting banned and challenged titles.
Key Elements of Innovation
The Freedom to Read campaign ran from April-October 2023, from National Library Week through Banned Books Week. The campaign’s key elements of innovation included the following:
• "I Read Banned Books" buttons and library cards
• Local/state/national press releases
• Book sanctuaries in all 37 branches (first in Florida)
• Virtual book sanctuary on the library website
• Eblasts to 300,000+ customers
• Weekly e-newsletter articles (April-October 2023)
• #BookSanctuary social media posts and ads
• Facebook photo album of book sanctuaries
• BCL Magazine covers featuring book sanctuaries and "I Read Banned Books" materials
• Banned Books Week video series
• Freedom to Read film screenings, discussions, and community conversations.
Achieved Outcomes
The campaign's success in raising awareness of book bans was evident through media coverage on broadcast/print news, MSN.com, and School Library Journal. The campaign garnered public support from the Broward County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners at their May 2023 meeting (“Our library and Allison Grubbs have offered a safe sanctuary for these books…”) and earned state and national awards. Honors include the 2024 Florida Library Association (FLA) Intellectual Freedom Award; a National Association of Counties Achievement Award; three National Association of County Information Officers Awards of Excellence – two for the design of the “I Read Banned Books” library card and button and one for the Freedom to Read campaign itself. BCL Director Allison Grubbs received FLA’s 2024 Administrator of the Year and the inaugural New Republic/Right to Read Toni Morrison Courage Award, all recognizing her leadership and the "Freedom to Read" campaign.
