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"
The ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom traced challenges in 2022. Here's the breakdown:
*Includes filtering, access, databases, magazines, online resources, artwork, social media, music, pamphlets, student publications, and reading lists
Statistics based on 1,207 cases with known initiators
Statistics based on 1,264 cases with known locations.
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.