Hi my fellow bookworms,
This month marks the annual Banned Books Week, beginning on Sunday, September 22, 2024 through Saturday, September 28, 2024. The theme this year, as stated by the American Library Association ("ALA"), is Freed Between the Lines. What a great way to promote the freedom to read!
A few statistics, from the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom ("OIF") to breakdown this past year's challenges on banned books (and it has been a year!):
- Challenges of unique titles surged 65% in 2023, compared to 2022
- This past year had the highest level of challenges ever recorded by the ALA
- OIF documented 4,240 unique book titles for censorship
- There were 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources in 2023
- Groups and individuals demanding the censorship of multiple titles, often dozens to hundreds at a time, started this uptick in challenged materials
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| (c) ALA, 2024 |
- Public libraries were targeted more, in addition to school libraries, in 2023 than previous years
- Titles tagged for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% in 2023, accounting for approximately 46% of all book challenges in 2023
- 76% of items challenged were books and graphic novels, 5% displays, 4% access (bomb threats, library closures), 4% hate crimes (vandalism, theft of materials representing marginalized groups), 3% programs, 2% films, and 6% other
- School libraries saw an 11% increase in challenged materials, compared to 2022
- In total, 54% of censorship attacks attack public libraries, 30% attack school libraries, 5% schools, and 2% higher education/other
- 47% of the censorship attempts targeted LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals
- The highest groups initiating censorship attempts have been patrons, or those who visit the library, with 28% of censorship attempts, followed by 24% parents, and 21% pressure groups
- Attempts to censor more than 100 titles were recorded in the following 17 U.S. states:
- Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin
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| (c) ALA, 2024 |
How does ALA compile its data? Through book challenge reports filed by library professionals throughout the United States, in addition to news stories. This doesn't cover all the data required for a full picture, though, as some reports never make it to ALA, so the above is
just a snapshot of the censorship that occurred over the previous year. So, what is a challenge? ALA states that
"A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict access to materials or services based upon the objections of a person or group. A challenge to a title may result in access to it being retained, restricted, or withdrawn entirely" (n.d.).
Previous book challenges have resulted in a book intended for a younger audience being removed from that section and placed in an older section of the library, requiring a parent's permission, being given a rating warning, or even requiring an older age to check the book out. These challenges are an attempt to remove materials from the public view, removing the public's ability to access them, their views, their ideas, their voices. (I'm imagining Ariel and Ursula as I write this.)
A formal challenge to a book means the start of a long process in which everyone involved with the library becomes involved, typically with the policy of the library and the library board who ultimately decides if the book meets the library's mission and criteria set in it's policy. ALA also states that
"A book is banned when it is entirely removed from a collection in response to a formal or informal challenge. Any reduction in access to library materials based on an individual or group's believe that they are harmful or offensive is an act of censorship" (n.d.).
Here are the Top Ten Books that were challenged in 2023, along with their reasons why (You may see some repeat offenders from 2022):
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| (c) ALA, 2024 |
How can you help?
- Check out the website Unite Against Book Bans, they have lots of ways to participate against censorship, as well as free tools to help you succeed in doing so.
- VOTE! This is an election year, we must make sure our votes count, so no more challenges or censorship continues - let's bring the above statistics back down!
- Read challenged books. Understand why they were challenged. Make your own decisions. Check out book resumes hosted on Unite Against Book Bans, if you do not have time to read all of them at the moment.
- Attend your local library board and school board meetings. Make YOUR voice heard!
- Visit your library! If you don't have a library card yet, get one - they're free! You can check so many more things out than just books, including music, audiobooks, movies, and sometimes, even technology (e.g., sewing machines or VHS to DVD converters)!
- Create your own Little Free Library and offer challenged books for those in your community to read.
- Read the ALA's Intellectual Freedom Blog to stay up-to-date on all things banned books related.
- Alert ALA of any book ban attempts in your community through the OIF office.
- Sign on the Freedom to Read Statement, and state your support in the belief of the freedom to read!
I support everyone's right to read. Until next time, I hope you "Freed Between the Lines!"
Happy reading (banned books)! :)
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References
ALA. (n.d.). Book ban data. https://www.ala.org/bbooks/book-ban-data
United Against Book Bans. (n.d.). Get involved. https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/get-involved/
