Kent State students will soon have the opportunity to borrow banned books from the Little Free Library, an initiative that will offer challenged books a new home.  

Sterling Baumgardner, the Director of Student Advancement for Undergraduate Student Government, is currently taking donations of banned books. The project’s purpose is to address the controversial topic of book banning in education. 

“It is a great idea for a lot of representation within the community that we serve,” Baumgardner said. “We really just wanted to promote inclusivity and diversity on campus.”

In 2023, the American Library Association saw 40 complaints challenging 235 books in Ohio alone. Many of the books targeted for censorship contain topics such as race, sexual health and LGBTQ+ representation.  

Last year, Juliana Buonaiuto, former student body president, had the idea for the library and ordered it through a funding request. The installation is currently standing near the entrance of the Tri-Towers Rotunda and will be officially opened on September 25. 

“We are actively looking for donations,” Baumgardner said. “It would be beneficial for people to give marginalized communities books that they want to donate.”

The donation bin for the Little Free Library is located in the Student Leader Suite on the second floor of the Student Center. 

Paul Burlinghaus is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].