Several titles from a proposed list of ban books in Carroll County, Md. Public Schools libraries. Credit - Kevin Richardson—Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service/Getty Images. In September, one of the largest public school systems in Tennessee banned Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel Beloved. In 2023, a police officer showed up to a classroom in Massachusetts after a parent disapproved of illustrations in Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer. A librarian was fired in Texas after she refused to put so-called inappropriate books behind the counter, including a title about the origins of the KKK.

A diverse cast of visionary teenagers, stirring public protests, private threats, criminal charges, and drama-filled school board meetings—this is the world of Banned Together. The first feature-length documentary about fighting the spread of book bans in the United States, Banned Together pulls back the curtain on book bans and...

This story was featured in our SacramenKnow newsletter. Sign up to get updates about what’s happening in the region in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday. A coming-of-age novel about a high school freshman dealing with teen problems and the loss of his best friend, who died by suicide. A series of personal essays exploring the life of a journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist. An autobiography charting a person’s journey of self-identity that grapples with the difficulty of coming out to family and society.

The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library participated in a national “Freedom to Read Day of Action” in response to a surge in book censorship incidents. The American Library Association reported a significant increase in book bans, particularly targeting titles featuring LGBT+ characters and characters of color. Fritzi Bodenheimer from the Brooklyn Public Library emphasized the importance of preserving diverse perspectives in literature, highlighting that silencing marginalized groups goes against democratic values. While New York City experiences fewer book banning cases, there were 57 challenges in the state, including bomb threats over a particular book. The Brooklyn Public Library's Books Unbanned initiative aims to provide access to censored books for students nationwide without requiring parental permission. However, it has faced backlash, with a teacher in Oklahoma losing her teaching license for promoting the program. Events like performances and rallies were held to raise awareness about the implications of book banning and censorship. The collaborative effort made by the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library during the national “Freedom to Read Day of Action” underscored a unified stand against the escalating wave of book censorship. With the American Library Association flagging a sharp uptick in bans predominantly aimed at works featuring LGBT+ and characters of color, the libraries' participation spoke volumes about the steadfast commitment to upholding the freedom of expression and protecting diverse voices in literature. Fritzi Bodenheimer’s advocacy for maintaining a broad spectrum of perspectives underscored the libraries' active role in safeguarding democratic principles and combating attempts to stifle marginalized narratives.

We must all stand up for the freedom to read and learn and oppose book banning. Read the story on VTDigger here: Bill Schubart: Book bans, censorship, what’s next?.

More than 10,000 books were banned from public schools in the 2023-2024 academic year, nearly triple the number from the previous year, according to preliminary findings from PEN America, a group that advocates for freedom of expression. PEN America recorded 3,362 bans nationwide in the 2022-2023. It will release the...

Utah book banners have now set their sights on Little Free Libraries, clamoring to make owners of these libraries susceptible to criminal charges. As conservative parents, educators, and politicians spread the book-banning movement across the nation, Utah has quickly arisen as one of the most dystopian states when it comes to the right to read. The state recently passed a law that allows it to enact statewide book bans. Essentially, if a handful of schools find some kind of fault with a book, it can be banned in every single public and charter school in the state. The Utah Board of Education also suggested adding a stipulation to the law that would’ve required teachers to burn the books banned statewide. Meanwhile, the state’s conservative politicians and educators recently held a book-banning party to celebrate the archaic law and demand that authors “repent” for writing books.

Book banners have never been on the right side of history. We know this because the books have survived. Yet we haven’t learned from our past.

On Sept. 26, SDSU students and faculty read excerpts from banned books during the Freed Between the Lines: Banned Books Week 2024 event, which was held in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union Courtyard to celebrate the freedom to read and bring awareness to nation-wide book challenging and banning. Freed...

“It’s not about the books. It’s never been about the books,” says Kelly Jensen, an award-winning author and editor at Book Riot. “Books are just very easy and convenient tools.”. In 2023, the American Library Association (ALA) recorded the highest number of titles targeted for censorship...