With book banning and legislative attacks on the freedom to read continuing to surge across the country, the American Library Association announced today that it tracked a stunning 1,269 "demands to censor library books and resources" in 2022

the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago, and nearly double the record-shattering 729 challenges recorded in 2021.

In a release, ALA officials said the challenges involved a record 2,571 unique titles—a stunning 38% increase from the 1,858 unique titles targeted for censorship in 2021. Once again, the vast majority of works challenged were written by or about members of the LGBTQ community and people of color; 58% of reported challenges targeted works in schools and 41% targeted materials in public libraries.

The numbers mark a worrisome trajectory: By comparison, ALA tracked some 377 challenges in 2019, the year before the pandemic shuttered libraries and schools. ALA officials said the skyrocketing numbers are the result of an organized, national political movement, noting the prevalent use of book lists compiled by various political groups—of the challenges tracked, 90% were part of attempts to censor multiple titles. Prior to 2021, the vast majority of challenges to library resources sought to remove or restrict access to a single book.

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

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