The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. The Library Bill of Rights affirms that libraries should provide books and other resources to meet the needs of all people of the communities that they serve. In addition, they should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. When individuals or groups attempt to remove or restrict materials, it is called a challenge. A banning refers to the removal of those materials.
In 2022, ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources. The number of reported book challenges in 2022 nearly doubles the 729 book challenges reported in 2021. The vast majority of titles targeted by censors were written by or about members of the LGBTQIA+ community or by and about Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color.
-Retrieved from ala.org.
Visit our Banned Books Guide to check out the range of titles targeted over the years. You may find one of your favorites on the list.