Book Ban Attempts in US Libraries and Schools will Reach a Record High in 2023, According to the National Library Group

ALA warns of record-high book ban attempts in US libraries and schools. Rise in censorship targets marginalized voices.

on Mar 15, 2024

Book Ban Attempts in US Libraries and Schools will Reach a Record High in 2023, According to the National Library Group | Frontlist

The American Library Association (ALA) said on Thursday that censorship requests and book ban attempts in public libraries and schools will reach an all-time high in 2023. The ALA recorded 1,247 requests to ban 4,240 distinct books. This represents a 65% increase from 2022, when 2,571 publications faced censorship demands. More than 100 titles were targeted by book bans in 17 jurisdictions. The ALA stated that they are "the highest levels ever documented" by the agency.

Censorship requests increased significantly in public libraries, increasing by 92% since 2022. This represented 46% of all book challenges in 2023.

Censorship demands at school libraries, which were traditionally the primary target of book ban attempts, rose by 11%.

ALA President Emily Drabinksi criticised the rise in censorship requests and defended libraries and librarians who labour to promote intellectual freedom, saying:

Every challenge to a library book constitutes an attack on our right to read. The books being targeted are once again aimed at LGBTQ+ individuals of colour. Our towns and country are stronger because of their diversity. Libraries that represent the variety of their communities foster learning and empathy, which some people seek to conceal or eradicate. Libraries are crucial institutions to each and every community in this country, and library staff who have committed their life to safeguarding our right to read, face threats to their employment and well-being.

Nearly half (47 percent) of the contested titles were authored by LGBTQ+, Black, or other marginalised authors, or told stories about those communities. This is consistent with a nationwide pattern in which conservative groups and legislators target school diversity efforts, prompting students to hold walkouts and organise banned book groups.

According to the ALA, the rise in censorship demands stemmed from groups and people targeting many publications at the same time. Moms for Liberty, a key advocate for book bans, has been labelled a far-right extremist anti-government group by the Southern Poverty Law Centre, a national civil rights organisation.

In addition to organised book ban campaigns, Moms for Liberty's book rating system and a review site run by a former member encourage people to submit censorship demands.

The new data release comes amid a backlash against censoring attempts. Organised attempts to restrict books have inspired a variety of groups to launch anti-censorship campaigns, with many criticising Moms for Liberty in particular. In December, a federal judge halted elements of Iowa's book prohibition statute, and in January, an appeals court determined that a Texas law targeting "sexually explicit" material likely violates the constitution.

Despite this, ALA officials warn that censorship demands will persist. Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom, stated, "The reports from librarians and educators in the field make it clear that the organised campaigns to ban books aren't over, and that we must all stand together to preserve our right to choose what we read."