Welcome to Defend Banned Books!

Attempts to ban books have become increasingly common in the United States. Since mid-2021, the U.S. has witnessed an increase in book bans and challenges. According to an article from The Washington Post, between July 2021 though March 2022 there were over 1,500 individual book bans, and these numbers have not decreased. This upsurge is an alarming threat to citizens' right to information and freedom to read.

This site is intended to be a guide for librarians, library staff, and other individuals interested in learning how to combat censorship. What is intellectual freedom, and why is it so important to librarians? What exactly is the process of a book challenge? What is the difference between a book "ban" and a "challenge"? What are some defensive tips and tricks for de-escalating a book challenge? Which books are some of the most commonly challenged, and why?

Defend Banned Books intends to provide resources related to all these topics and beyond so that readers like you have access to the tools you need to successfully navigate conversations about censorship.

Left: Book censorship infographic compiled by the Office for Intellectual Freedom (ALA, 2021)