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American Library Association
Trends
- 1
Banned Books Week has begun, the annual American Library Association initiative highlighting attempts to remove or restrict books in schools and libraries. Librarians, authors and readers are sharing challenged titles and free-expression advocacy throughout the week, with debates over book removals in US school districts continuing to draw national attention.
- 2Book challenges in US libraries hit 4,235 in 2025●Data from the American Library Association recorded 4,235 unique books were challenged in 2025 via public, school, and a
New figures from the American Library Association show 4,235 unique books were challenged in 2025 across public, school, and academic libraries. Commenters note this marks a dramatic escalation: the annual average between 2001 and 2020 was just 273 challenged books. Many are framing the surge as a sustained attack on free speech and access to information, with librarians and readers voicing alarm over organised censorship efforts.