Censorship via book bans in 2023 reached the highest levels ever recorded by the American Library Association, with 4,240 individual titles under fire to be removed from library. In 2022, just 2,571 were targeted; however, many book bans go unreported, so this may not represent the full scale of the issue.
The ALA has tracked book bans for more than two decades, collating data from news reports and information that library professionals have reported to the association. “I wake up every morning hoping this is over,” said ALA president Emily Drabinski.“What I find striking is that this is still happening, and it’s happening with more intensity.”
Conservative groups such as Utah Parents United and Moms for Liberty urge their members to file complaints about certain books and advocate for legislation that regulates the content of what is available in libraries. The number of book challenges in 2023 in public libraries rose by 92% compared to the previous year, while book challenges in school libraries rose by 11%.
Book challenges at public libraries rose by 92 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year, totaling 1,761 individual titles. In school libraries, challenges rose by 11 percent, according to the report.
