National Library Week is April 19 – 25—and what better way to celebrate than by downloading free eBooks and audiobooks from your local library system?
Through the end of April, participating libraries are offering unlimited free loans of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as an eBook and audiobook through the Libby app. With no wait times, you can download the book immediately. The novel is also available in more than 20 languages, so that non-English speakers can also enjoy the kids’ classic.
This year, the Harry Potter series was among the American Library Associations’ Top Ten Most Challenged Books list for 2019, which tracks censorship in libraries and schools. Critics of the novels cited the presence of magic and witchcraft as a reason to remove them from school and library shelves. Still, libraries and their staff continue to fight for everyone’s freedom to read, sharing access to a variety of materials (even those considered controversial).
If you’ve haven’t already, be sure to visit your library’s website to see what other digital resources they have for free—from eBooks, audiobooks, and movies to virtual storytimes and online courses. While most libraries have closed to the public due to the pandemic, they’re still finding innovative ways to keep their communities informed and entertained.
We’re celebrating National Library Week through April 25; here are more ways to join the festivities.
