Record High in U.S. Book Censorship Attempts in 2023, ALA Reports

Public libraries face a 92% increase in censorship efforts, with nearly half of targeted books featuring LGBTQ and racial themes.

Book banning and censorship attempts in the U.S. reached a record high in 2023, with 4,240 works targeted, marking a 65% increase from 2022.
The American Library Association (ALA) noted a significant rise in censorship efforts against public libraries, with a 92% increase compared to the previous year.
Nearly half of the challenged books, 47%, featured LGBTQ and racial themes, reflecting organized campaigns by groups such as Moms for Liberty.
Despite a decrease in the number of separate challenges, mass efforts to censor large numbers of books at once have surged, especially in states like Florida and Texas.
The ALA will release its annual list of the most frequently challenged books, with titles like “Gender Queer” and “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” expected to be highlighted.