Surge in Book Challenges Press Kit

A top view of the sides of several books behind a block of text that reads "BANNED AND CHALLENGED BOOKS Press Kit"

The American Library Association (ALA) champions and defends the freedom to read as promised by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

Efforts to ban books have persisted in American history, but those efforts are reaching unprecedented heights.

In 2022, ALA documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources – the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. Ninety percent of the overall number of books challenged were part of attempts to censor multiple titles. On September 20, 2023, ALA released new preliminary data documenting a continued uptick in attempts to censor books, materials, and services across public, school, and academic libraries in the United States between January 1 - August 31, 2023.

Contributing significantly to the skyrocketing number of book challenges is the prevalent use of lists of books compiled by organized censorship groups. Each attempt to ban a book by one of these groups represents a direct attack on every person’s constitutionally protected right to freely choose what books to read and what ideas to explore.

Media contacts:

Raymond Garcia, cmomedia@ala.org

Charisse Barnachea, charisse@mekkymedia.com

Top 13 Most Challenged Books of 2022

Library staff in every state faced an unprecedented number of attempts to ban books. ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 1,269 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2022, resulting in more than 2,571 unique title challenges or removals. Most targeted books were by or about Black or LGBTQIA+ persons.

Because many book challenges are not reported to the ALA or covered by the press, the Top Most Challenged Books lists and 2022 data compiled by ALA represent only a snapshot of book challenges. A challenge to a book may be resolved in favor of retaining the book in the collection, or it can result in a book being restricted or withdrawn from the library.

Download the two-page Infographic

Photo of ALA President Emily Drabinski

Emily Drabinski
ALA President (2023-2024)

ALA President Emily Drabinski is critical pedagogy librarian at the The Graduate Center, City University of New York. She is a life member of ALA, and her past ALA service includes a term as chair of the International Relations Committee (2020-21), ALA councilor-at-large (2018-20), and chair of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Information Literacy Frameworks and Standards Committee (2019-20). Drabinski holds an MLIS from Syracuse University, a BA in political science from Columbia University, and an MA in composition and rhetoric from Long Island University, Brooklyn.

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Photo of Director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom Deborah Caldwell-Stone standing in front of library shelves.

Deborah Caldwell-Stone, JD
Director, ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom and Executive Director, Freedom to Read Foundation

For over two decades, Deborah Caldwell-Stone has advised librarians, teachers and library trustees on a wide range of intellectual freedom issues, including censorship of library resources, book challenges, internet filtering, and the impact of new technologies, regulations and government surveillance on library users' privacy and confidentiality. A former appellate litigator, Caldwell-Stone received her J.D. with Honors from Chicago-Kent College of Law.

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