US – The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) has introduced The Banned Book Club, a new initiative to combat the rise in book bans in schools and public libraries across the US. In partnership with creative agency FCB Chicago, DPLA offers free access to banned books for readers affected by bans.

The Banned Book Club uses GPS-based geo-targeting to create virtual libraries in communities where specific books have been banned. Readers can download these banned books for free on any hand-held device using the Palace e-reader app.

John S Bracken, executive director of Digital Public Library of America, said in a statement: ‘Today, book bans are one of the greatest threats to our freedom, and we have created The Banned Book Club to leverage the dual powers of libraries and digital technology to ensure that every American can access the books they want to read.’

Supported by former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, The Banned Book Club stands as a digital solution to promote the free exchange of ideas and safeguard the right to access diverse literary voices and stories covering topics such as gender, race, identity and feminism – narratives known to educate and empower marginalised communities that some US politicians would prefer to censor.

Global ­– After a boom during the pandemic, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) providers are encountering obstacles due to higher interest rates, reduced venture capital availability and investors’ profit expectations. As they seek additional revenue streams and new users, some companies have cut staff and withdrawn from certain markets.

Bank of America analysts tracked app downloads and monthly active users of BNPL providers, including Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, Sezzle and Zip. The data showed that, although the BNPL industry remains macro-sensitive, it is likely to endure, appealing to specific consumers and merchants.

Sweden’s Klarna reported the largest drop in daily downloads, plunging 38.1% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the same period the previous year, while San Francisco-based Affirm experienced its first decline of 5.7% in daily downloads in the quarter. Only Australia’s Afterpay saw growth, of 9.2% year on year.

The report also highlighted that repeat users contribute more to BNPL growth than newcomers, especially as younger consumers have an innate trust in the power of technology to help manage their finances, as reported in Money Market: Generation Z. As the industry navigates challenges and changes, analysts await clarity on BNPL providers’ profit models and their ability to weather macroeconomic cycles.