Use the resources listed in this guide to begin your research about banned and challenged books. Pay close attention to the search tips and examples provided on each page. They will help make your research more successful. If you are having trouble, ask a librarian for help.
A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. From ALA's "About Book Bans and Challenges"
17% Political/Religious Groups
15% Board/Administration
3% Librarians/Teachers
3% Elected Officials
4% Other (includes non-custodial relatives, nonresidents, community members without library cards, etc.)
*Statistics based on 1207 cases with known initiators
Censorship on the Rise:
The unparalleled number of reported book challenges in 2022 nearly doubled the number reported in 2021. The number of unique titles targeted marked a 38% increase over 2021.
ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 1269 challenges in 2022. Here's the breakdown:
