Hey everyone, and happy Sunday!
Today is the beginning of Banned Book Week 2023, hosted by the American Library Association (ALA). Although it’s always important to talk about the negative impact of book banning and censorship, this year, it is especially necessary given the significant increase in book challenges this year.
In 2022, the Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF) reported 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources, which is the highest it has been in 20 years.
Another concerning statistic is that there have been more groups and individuals challenging multiple books at once versus challenging a single book. Aside from groups such as Moms for Liberty challenging books, there are other local groups such as Clean Up Samuels (related to Samuel’s Public Library in Virginia) pushing for bans on multiple titles in not just school libraries but also public libraries.
This further showcases the need to take action and support your local libraries and public school libraries in protecting a kid’s right to have access to books about not just their own experiences, but also experiences outside of their own lives. Reading is one way to learn more about the world around you, and be exposed to new ideas, lived experiences, and perspectives.
I also wanted to highlight some of the states where libraries and schools are facing an onslaught of book challenges. We hear a lot about states such as Florida and Texas, but there are many other states where schools and libraries are fighting these challenges and also need local support, including states such as Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia.
The ALA also has an interactive map you can look at showing the states with the most book challenges along with the most challenged books in 2023. There is data going back to 2013, so if you want to see the drastic change over just the past decade, check out the map here.
The following is the list of the top 13 most challenged books of 2022, which mainly are books dealing with topics about the LGBTQ+ community and/or race and/or are authors from these communities.
For more information about banned books and books challenges, check out:
The American Library Association
Here is more information about Banned Books Week events:
New York Public Library’s Banned Books Week Resources and Events
Thanks for reading, and I will see you in the next post!
-Erin 🎃
Eclectic Erin 