Research Guides: We Read Banned Books: Data, Statistics & Reports

Data, Statistics & Reports by Organization

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)

Intellectual freedom is defined by the OIF as "the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment."

The Office for Intellectual Freedom was established in 1967 as part of the American Library Association (ALA). The office has tracked book challenges to public, school and other libraries since 1990.

Every April, the office releases the list of most banned/challenged books from the previous year for National Library Week. During Banned Books Week, they provide information about the current year's data.

Current Data

Censorship by the Numbers (ALA OIF)
"ALA compiles data on book challenges from reports filed by library professionals in the field and from news stories published throughout the United States. Because many book challenges are not reported to the ALA or covered by the press, the 2022 data compiled by ALA represents a snapshot of book censorship throughout 2022. A challenge to a book may be resolved in favor of retaining the book in the collection, or it can result in a book being restricted or withdrawn from the library."
Current Book Ban Data (ALA OIF)
Current data from the present year, including visualizations of the uptick in challenges, individual accounts, and more information about the data collection and analysis process.
Top Challenged Books of the Past Year (ALA OIF)
The most recent list of highly banned/challenged books in the US, compiled by the ALA OIF.

1990-2022

Most Banned & Challenged Books Lists Archive (ALA OIF)
Full lists from 2001; summaries of reports from 1990, when the OIF began tracking, until 2000.
Challenges to the Freedom to Read, 2013-2022 (Flourish)
A map showing book bans/challenges in US states from 2013 to 2022. Data visualization by Flourish, data from the ALA OIF.

PEN America

PEN America is the American chapter of an international organization that fights for the civil rights of authors.

As part of its charge, PEN America tracks book bans and challenges in schools and libraries and provides regular reports and data analysis.

The organizations also serves as an advocate for these issues in lawsuits filed to defend the rights of authors.

PEN America - Book Bans
PEN America is the American chapter of an international organization that fights for the civil rights of authors. The issue of banned books is one of their current areas of focus.

Current Data & Reports

PEN America Index of School Book Bans – 2022-2023
PEN America's collected data about school book bans. "PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans differentiates between four discrete categories of bans: Banned from libraries and classrooms; Banned from libraries; Banned from classrooms; and Banned pending investigation. The same title can be banned from libraries, classrooms, or both, in different districts."
Banned in the USA: The Mounting Pressure to Censor (PEN America)
The 2023 report on book bans and challenges from PEN America, including the dataset.

National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC)

The NCAC provides resources and tools for those pushing back against censorship attempts.

Censorpedia (NCAC)
NCAC's Censorpedia is a crowdsourced wiki database of censorship incidents in a variety of media, including books, music, dance, and art. Browse by medium, region, and reason for censoring.

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF)

The CBLDF fights for the rights of comic book writers and artists, and tracks incidents of censorship against comic books.

Banned & Challenged Comics (CBLDF)
The CBLDF's case files of comic books banned or challenged.

Banned Books Week Coalition

The above organizations and many others work together to produce and support Banned Books Week every year.

Coalition members include: American Booksellers for Free Expression, American Library Association, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Amnesty International USA, Association of University Presses, Authors Guild, Banned Books Week Sweden, Children’s Book Council, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), Freedom to Read Foundation, GLAAD, Index on Censorship, Little Free Library, National Book Foundation, National Coalition Against Censorship, National Council of Teachers of English, PEN America, People For the American Way Foundation, PFLAG, and Project Censored. It is also supported by publishers HarperCollins and Penguin Random House.

Banned Books Week Coalition
The full list of organizations involved in the effort.
Banned Books Week (ALA)
As one of the event co-sponsors, ALA provides data and information on the issue and schedules events throughout the week.

We Read Banned Books