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NUMBER OF UNIQUE TITLES CHALLENGED 2021-2023. 2021: 1,858. 2022: 2,571. 2023: 4,240. ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
1,247 attempts to ban or restrict library materials and services in 2023. Stylized image of three books (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Fahrenheit 451, and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) with their titles crossed out. ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
Stylized image of someone pulling a book off a library shelf. In 2023, the number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% over the previous year, while school libraries saw an 11% increase. ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
Stylized image of two books (one indiscernible, the other Sex Is a Funny Word) with their covers crossed out. Text reads, Groups and individuals demanding the censorship of multiple titles, often dozens or hundreds at a time, drove the 2023 surge. ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
Stylize image of stacks of All Boys Aren't Blue with the title crossed out. Text reads "47% of titles targeted for censorship in 2023 represent the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals." ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
Graphic of the United States of America. Text reads "More than 100 titles were challenged in 17 different states: Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin" ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
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." Emily Drabinski, 2023-2024 ALA President
Join us in the fight against censorship. Unite Against Book Bans. UniteAgainstBookBans.org

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Information about Banned Books

Top Challenged Books of 2023

Every year, American Library Association's (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The lists are based on information from reports filed by library professionals and community members and from news stories published throughout the United States.

OIF documented 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship, as well as 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources in 2023. Four key trends emerged from the data gathered from 2023 censorship reports:

  • Pressure groups in 2023 focused on public libraries in addition to targeting school libraries. The number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% over the previous year, accounting for about 46% of all book challenges in 2023; school libraries saw an 11% increase over 2022 numbers.

  • Groups and individuals demanding the censorship of multiple titles, often dozens or hundreds at a time, drove this surge.

  • Titles representing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals made up 47% of those targeted in censorship attempts.

  • There were attempts to censor more than 100 titles in each of these 17 states: Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.