Benjamin Franklin understood the revolutionary potential of libraries. Writing just before the American Revolution in what eventually became known as his Autobiography, he said this about the lending library he helped found in Philadelphia, which he claimed was the first in North America:
These libraries have improved the general conversation of the Americans, made the common tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen from other countries, and perhaps have contributed in some degree to the stand so generally made throughout the colonies in defense of their privileges.
While the GOP supermajority in our state continues its race to the bottom when it comes to (among other things) banning books, our lovely public library in this blue island of a city is taking a stand against censorship by offering this new design for library cards as part of their Freedom to Read campaign.
In social media posts announcing the availability of the new cards, Nashville Public Library explained the rationale for the new design:
Nashville Public Library will always respect your Freedom to Read — to independently determine what you read (and don’t read) and to determine what your children read (or don’t read). Access to a variety of ideas and thinking, not just the popular ideas, is what our democracy is all about. That’s why we’re calling on everyone to celebrate their intellectual freedom with a special edition, “Banned Books” Nashville Public Library card.
These limited edition cards are available online and at our 21 locations. As always, this card is free, and there’s no fee to switch out your existing card for this special design. An NPL card is your gateway to more than 2 million items — including Maus, Walk Two Moons, and dozens of many other books that have been banned or challenged in cities across the U.S.
Three cheers for public libraries!
(Of course, I had to make sure to get my new card today. My old one was pretty worn out, but with this new design, I didn’t really need an excuse!)