Banned Books Week

People with the best intentions may challenge books. Often they see it as protecting others. Challenges can come from those holding ideological beliefs on both the right and the left. In 2024, the ALA recorded that:

• 4% by library patrons
• 16% of reported challenges were initiated by parents
• 26% organized pressure groups
• 36% by a board or administration
• 1% by librarians or teachers
• 10% by elected officials

Pressure groups in 2024 focused on public libraries in addition to targeting school libraries. The majority of book censorship attempts are now originating from organized movements. 

Titles representing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals made up most of those targeted in censorship attempts.

The top three reasons cited for challenging materials as reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom are:

1. the material was considered to be "sexually explicit"
2. the material contained "offensive language"
3. the materials was "unsuited to any age group"

Other reasons cited include:

• anti-ethnic
• cultural insensitivity
• racism
• sexism
• anti-family
• violence
• drugs, alcohol, smoking
• gambling
• suicide
• homosexuality
• religious viewpoint
• political viewpoint
• occult, Satanism, witchcraft
• inaccurate
• technical errors