According to the American Library Association (2024):
According to PEN America (2024):
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.
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.