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Recommended Reading: September-October: Banned Books Week 2024

Highline College's librarians recommend materials from the library collection on a wide variety of topics.

Banned Books Week 2024

What's the Difference Between a Banned Book and a Challenged Book?

According to the American Library Association (2024):

  • Book Challenges are "an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group."
  • Banned Books are books that have been removed or restricted from collections, "based upon the objections of a person or group."

According to PEN America (2024):

  • Book Bans are "any action taken against a book based on its content that leads to a previously accessible book being completely removed from availability for students or where access to a book is restricted or diminished."

Rise in Book Bans and Challenges

According to data collected by the American Library Association, the record-breaking number of unique book titles targeted for banning in 2023 marked a 65% increase over 2022.

The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked "1,247 demands to censor library books and resources in 2023. The number of titles targeted for censorship surged 65% in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching the highest levels ever documented by OIF in more than 20 years of tracking: 4,240 unique book titles were targeted for removal from schools and libraries. This tops the previous high from 2022, when 2,571 unique titles were targeted for censorship. Titles representing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals made up 47% of those targeted in censorship attempts."

Learn more at Banned Books Week.

Slideshow: Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2023

Censorship by the Numbers: Unique Titles Challenged by Year

Number of unique titles challenged by year

According to data collected by the American Library Association, the record-breaking number of unique book titles targeted for banning in 2023 marked a 65% increase over 2022.

Censorship by the Numbers: Who Initiates Attempts to Censor Books?

Who initiates attempts to censor books?

In 2023, organized pressure groups used their power to try to empty library shelves of all books they deem inappropriate.

Censorship by the Numbers: Where do Censorship Attempts Take Place?

Where do censorship efforts take place?

Public library collections came under increased scrutiny in 2023.

Censorship by the Numbers: Books and Beyond

Books and beyond. ALA's OIF tracked 1,247 censorship attempts in 2023. 76% books, graphic novels; 5% displays; 4% access; 4% hate crimes; 3% programs; 2% films; 6% other

While the majority of book bans and challenges impacted books and graphic novels (76%), bans and challenges also impacted library access, hate crimes, programs, films, and more.

Censorship by the Numbers

Censorship by the Number 2023 Infographic, from the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom

Check out these Banned Books at the Highline Library