Empowering Alaskans: Former APL Assistant Director Champions Books Unbanned Initiative
Jacob Cole transitioned from his role as the Assistant Director of Anchorage Public Library last May to assume the position of Director at the Longview Public Library in Washington state. Yet, even with his new responsibilities, Cole's commitment to preserving intellectual freedom remains unwavering, and he has kept a watchful eye on attempts in Alaska to restrict access to books.
Over the past few months, the Anchorage Public Library has found itself in the crosshairs of a vocal minority of right-wing pro-censorship activists. Among their ranks are conservative members of the Anchorage Library Advisory Board and even Sami Graham, Mayor Bronson's former chief of staff, who was also his initial pick to head the public library.
Amidst the wave of book-banning endeavors aimed at Alaska’s libraries, Cole emerges as a passionate advocate, determined to raise awareness across the state about the Books Unbanned initiative — a gateway for teenagers and young adults to access library books that have been challenged or banned.
The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) introduced the Books Unbanned program last April in response to the conservative-led nationwide effort to ban books. Since launching, more than 6,300 teens from all 50 states have signed up for BPL's National Teen eCard and have checked out approximately 100,000 e-titles. The Seattle Public Library recently joined the program.
Last week, Cole launched a fundraiser, rallying support for his mission that strives to educate and empower Alaskans, ensuring that the right to read continues unabated in every corner of the Last Frontier.
Cole wants to buy a half-page advertisement and a week of digital advertising in the Anchorage Daily News to educate Alaskans about the Books Unbanned program. He says he wants to make sure Alaskans know they have a way to check out books that might be challenged or banned from a public or school library in the future.
"There was at least one book being challenged at APL, and I know that's kinda' on hold now, but both the Anchorage and Mat-Su school districts have been under pressure to remove books if they haven't already. I think it's important for people to know they have ways to access books if they wind up being banned," Cole told me.
While conservatives focus their attention on imposing restrictions on our private reading choices, Cole's commitment to safeguarding Alaskans' right to read couldn't be more timely.
