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(Texas News Service) With book bans in public schools increasing, public libraries have a larger purpose. The Town of Little Elm in northeast Texas has found a unique way to help people get a library book.

Little Elm is the latest city in Texas to provide the public with a 24-hour library kiosk to dispense books and DVDs.

The library's Managing Director of Library Services Diana Slavinsky said there is only one main library in the town, and they wanted to offer services to more people.

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"The kiosk itself is like a vending machine," said Slavinsky. "There are 340 titles on display, and you can use your library card to check out materials from there. It - like - rotates around like a carousel. It displays everything nicely, so it's a fun kiosk."

Other library systems across the state offering kiosks include Garland, Grand Prairie, Harlingen, and Houston.

The Little Elm Kiosk is available to anyone with a library card, which are free for all Texas residents.

Slavinski said books from the main library can be transferred to the kiosk for after-hours pick-ups.

She added that with book bans increasing, she said she hopes the kiosk is a way to ensure anyone who wants a book can get it.

"I think always as a library we want to get books in hands," said Slavinsky. "We want to get library cards in hands. We definitely see this as a method of improving access to materials. "

House Bill 900, which was passed by the Texas Legislature in 2023, restricts what books students can check out of school libraries - leading districts across the state to take hundreds of books off school shelves.