Skip to Main Content

Banned Books Week 2024: Who Challenges Books?

Book Ban Data

ALA report 2023
ALA President
Number of unique titles challenged
attempts to ban
titles censorship
LGBTQ censorships
Locations

Who Challenges Books?

Books & materials are challenged by a variety of people and groups. This graph shows who challenged these books according to complaints reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom.

Who initiates infographic

Censorship on the Rise

The number of reported book challenges have nearly doubled from 2021 to 2022. See the numbers below.

Unique titles banned

 

Did You Know?

The American Library Association estimates that 82-97% of book challenges ("silent challenges") go unreported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom. This is for a variety of reasons including the fear of losing their job, public criticism and attacks, and more. The Top 10 List of Banned & Challenged Books, as well as the information on why they were challenged and who challenged the books as seen on this page, is based on what is reported to the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom. "Public Challenges" are challenges that are reported and verified by a third party.

Where Banning takes place

It's Not Just Books...

Books aren't the only items threatened by censorship. 

Books and beyond