The Set Books Free Project

Imagine this: bookstores from around the country, sending grassroots organizations banned and diverse books, purchased by their customers for the purpose, so that the grassroots organizers can get those books where they’re most needed. Together, they form a pipeline supplying high-ban areas with the books that are being banned, creating a disincentive to ban books and a safety net for when libraries and schools are targeted with bans. 

This is the goal of the Set Books Free Project, a book donation program for banned and diverse books. Over 50 bookstores in 32 states have already expressed interest. We are partnered with * Annie’s Foundation, Brain Food Books, Carabiner Collections, The Lynx Watch, Pride and Less Prejudice, Red Wine & Blue, The Texas Freedom Network, We Need Diverse Books, and more to come. 

Here’s how it works: Participating stores will be paired with a grassroots organization in a nearby state or community to supply with books. They do not donate books themselves, but they do have a shelf of banned books that customers can buy for themselves or for donation to the grassroots partner. Every month or so, the participating store will ship books purchased for donation to the grassroots partner, who will get them where they need to go. 

You can sign up for more information here or reach out to [email protected].