Book Ban Data

Banned

2024 Book Ban Data

Who demands book bans in schools and public libraries? 72% Pressure Groups and Government Entities. (including elected officials, board members, and administrators) 16% Parents. 12% Other (individual library users, teachers, librarians, staff). ALA American Library Association.

During National Library Week 2025 (April 6-12), the American Library Association released data documenting attempts to censor books and materials in public, school, and academic libraries during 2024. The data shows that the majority of book censorship attempts are now originating from organized movements. Pressure groups and government entities that include elected officials, board members, and administrators initiated 72% of demands to censor books in school and public libraries.

821 attempts to censor library books and materials in 2024. ALA American Library Association.

In 2024, ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 821 attempts to censor library materials and services. In those cases, 2,452 unique titles were challenged. Last year, ALA tracked 1,247 attempts with 4,240 unique titles challenged. Though the number of reports decreased in 2024, the number of documented attempts to censor books continues to far exceed the numbers prior to 2020.

ALA cites the following factors contributing to the decrease in documented censorship from 2023:

  • Underreporting – Many book challenges are not publicly reported or covered by the press. In many cases, reporting censorship poses significant risk to a library worker’s professional livelihood and personal safety.
  • Censorship by Exclusion – This occurs when library workers are prohibited from purchasing books, or required to place books in restricted or less accessible areas of the library due to fear of controversy.
  • Legislative restrictions – Several states have passed laws restricting the type of materials available in libraries and schools based on the ideas or topics addressed in the materials. Many of these laws require school districts to restrict or remove library materials that are broadly deemed to include “sexual content” or controversial themes, resulting in the removal of books with literary or educational merit from school libraries that include LGBTQ+ characters or themes, or the removal of books about race or racism and featuring characters of color.
2,452 unique titles targeted for censorship in 2024. ALA American Library Association.

The Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles data on book challenges from reports by library professionals in the field and from news stories published throughout the United States. Because many book challenges are not reported to the ALA or covered by the press, the 2024 data compiled by ALA represents only a snapshot of book censorship throughout the year.

As ALA continues to document the harms of censorship, we celebrate those whose advocacy and support are helping to end censorship in our libraries.

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ALA releases censorship data for 2024. New data ties majority of library censorship to organized campaigns.
821 attempts to censor library books and materials in 2024. ALA American Library Association.
2,452 unique titles targeted for censorship in 2024. ALA American Library Association.
New data reported to ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom shows that the majority of book censorship attempts are now originating from organized movements. The 120 titles most frequently targeted for censorship during 2024 are all identified on partisan book rating sites which provide tools for activists to demand the censorship of library books.
Who demands book bans in schools and public libraries? 72% Pressure Groups and Government Entities. (including elected officials, board members, and administrators) 16% Parents. 12% Other (individual library users, teachers, librarians, staff). ALA American Library Association.
"As the organized attempts to censor materials in libraries persist, we must continue to unite and protect the freedom to read and support our library workers, especially at a time when our nation's libraries are facing threats to funding and library professionals are facing threats to their livelihood. Cindy Hohl, ALA President. ALA American Library Association.
ALA releases censorship data for 2024. New data ties majority of library censorship to organized campaigns.
821 attempts to censor library books and materials in 2024. ALA American Library Association.
2,452 unique titles targeted for censorship in 2024. ALA American Library Association.
New data reported to ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom shows that the majority of book censorship attempts are now originating from organized movements. The 120 titles most frequently targeted for censorship during 2024 are all identified on partisan book rating sites which provide tools for activists to demand the censorship of library books.
Who demands book bans in schools and public libraries? 72% Pressure Groups and Government Entities. (including elected officials, board members, and administrators) 16% Parents. 12% Other (individual library users, teachers, librarians, staff). ALA American Library Association.
"As the organized attempts to censor materials in libraries persist, we must continue to unite and protect the freedom to read and support our library workers, especially at a time when our nation's libraries are facing threats to funding and library professionals are facing threats to their livelihood. Cindy Hohl, ALA President. ALA American Library Association.

Take Action

Unite Against Book Bans
Join the Campaign

Unite Against Book Bans is ALA's national initiative to empower readers everywhere to stand together in the fight against censorship with an array of resources, tools, and actions.

Report Censorship
Report Censorship

Reporting censorship and challenges to materials, resources, and services is vital to defending library resources and to protect against challenges before they happen.

Additional Resources

Frequently Challenged Books
Frequently Challenged Books

Lists of frequently challenged books compiled by ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom to inform the public about censorship efforts that affect libraries and schools.

Fire icon (ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom logo)
"Fight Censorship" Resource Clearinghouse

A clearinghouse of resources to assist library workers and advocates in responding to and supporting others facing those challenges.

Library Bill of Rights
Library Bill of Rights Interpretations

Documents designated by the Intellectual Freedom Committee as Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights and background statements detailing the philosophy and history of each.

Methodology

ALA compiles data on book challenges from reports filed by library professionals in the field and from news stories published throughout the United States. Because many book challenges are not reported to ALA or covered by the press, the data compiled by ALA represents a snapshot of book censorship.

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. Restrictions on access may include relocating the book to a section of the library intended for an older age group than the book is intended for, labeling it with a prejudicial content warning or rating, taking it out of the online catalog so it has to be requested from a staff member, removing it from open and freely browsable stacks, or requiring parental permission to check it out.

Challenges do not simply involve people expressing their point of view, but rather are an attempt to remove materials from curricula or libraries, thereby curtailing the ability of others to access information, views, ideas, expressions, and stories. A formal challenge leads to the reconsideration of the decision to purchase the material or offer the service. This process is governed by a board-approved policy and includes review of the material as a whole to assess if it is aligned with the library or school's mission and meets the criteria delineated in its selection, display, or programming policy (as applicable).

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. ALA does not consider weeding of an item based on criteria defined in a library or school district's policy to be a ban, nor do we characterize a temporary reduction in access resulting from the need to review materials to be a ban.