In a world where knowlege is power, what happens without books?
Image credit to Pixabay on Pexels
Background of Book Bans
Book bans are an issue that is slowly rising each year. The American Library Association reported that since tracking began in 1990, 2024 had the third highest number of book challenges. Book bans affect everyone, from public schools to libraries. In just the 2023-2024 school year, there were more than 10,000 book bans across the US- as found by PEN America. Pressure groups and government entities- groups that include elected officials, board members, and administrators- were shown to have initiated around 72% of the demand to censor books in both schools and public libraries. The number of documented attempts for book censorship has continued to grow and exceed numbers prior to 2020.
2023-2024 Book Bans by State
Credit to PEN America
Main Issues Book Bans Face
- Underreporting
- This issue has risen due to the lack of public reporting or press coverage concerning the topic of book bans and censorship. For many, reporting on this topic can pose a risk for both the livelihood and personal safety of anyone involved.
- Censorship by Exlusion
- When library workers or anyone involved in providing public access books are prohibited from purchasing books or required to place these books in restricted or less-accessible areas, censorship by exclusion occurs. This is usually due to fear of controversy or backlash.
- Legislative Restrictions
- This occurs when states pass laws restricting what materials can be available in libraries, schools, and public areas based on the ideas or topic matter of said materials. Legislative restrictions have the most effect on schools, where they require school districts to restrict or remove any library material that is deemed to include “sexual content” or controversial themes, though this denotation is often broad and can sometimes be claimed falsely. Books that have been removed surround topic matter such as LGBTQ+ characters/representation, race or racism, equity, social justice, and literary or educational merit.