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 2023, the ALA recorded that:

• 28% by library patrons
• 24% of reported challenges were initiated by parents
• 21% organized pressure groups
• 13% by a board or administration
• 3% by librarians or teachers
• 2% by elected officials

Pressure groups in 2023 focused on public libraries in addition to targeting school libraries. The number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% over the previous year, accounting for about 46% of all book challenges in 2023; school libraries saw an 11% increase over 2022 numbers.

Titles representing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals made up 47% 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