Books are considered banned when they're removed from a library's collection after being challenged by a person or group. Book bans and challenges have reached an all-time high in the U.S. Bans and challenges can also lead to "quiet censorship," which occurs when books are not made available out of fear that they will be challenged.

Book bans matter because they silence perspectives, erase identities, and eliminate choice. Reading about different perspectives and experiences is important for encouraging the free exchange of ideas and fostering understanding. By standing together against book bans and censorship, we uphold intellectual freedom and ensure that all voices have the right to be heard.