In a new report, the American Library Association found that the number of unique titles targeted for censorship in public and school libraries rose 65% from 2022 to 2023.
The ALA, which tracks book challenges and bans through its Office for Intellectual Freedom, reported that 4,240 books were challenged last year, eclipsing the 2,571 unique titles targeted in 2022.
There were 1,247 attempts to censor books in 2023. A map released by the ALA shows that Texas led the nation in book ban attempts, with 49 challenges targeting 1,470 books. Florida was close behind, with 33 challenges aimed at 2,672 books. Also posting high numbers were Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. Only one state, Vermont, had no documented attempts to ban books.
Groups and individuals targeting books focused more heavily on public libraries last year, with the number of challenged titles increasing by 92% over 2022. According to the ALA, books “representing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals” were heavily targeted, making up 47% of the books challenged last year.
ALA President Emily Drabinski said in a statement, “Every challenge to a library book is an attack on our freedom to read. The books being targeted again focus on LGBTQ+ and people of color. Our communities and our country are stronger because of diversity. Libraries that reflect their communities’ diversity promote learning and empathy that some people want to hide or eliminate.”
The ALA’s report comes less than a month before National Library Week, when the organization will release its annual list of the 10 most challenged books in the country. Last year’s list was topped by Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer, George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue, and Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
