American Library Association’s New Book Censorship Data Released

Banned Books Week launches Monday, September 19, 2022, and the American Library Association (ALA) has released the latest numbers

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Several related movements contributed to this surge in censor- ship

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Organizations like Moms for Liberty and No Left Turn in Education provided resources including target lists, talking

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Republican PACs supported the election of pro-censorship candidates to school and library boards

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Sign up to Today In Books to receive daily news and miscellany from the world of books

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The new report adds more context to their data: examples of censorship toward several of the most

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] It is crystal clear books by/about queer people and people of color continue to be targets

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] It is also clear that books are an easy target; these actions are meant to stir the

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The field report ends with a letter from James LaRue, Executive Director at Garfield County Library District (

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] These are times of transition in their lives, and some parents become overprotective of their children’s

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] It’s an emotional reality amplified by current fears and concerns related to the pandemic

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Many of the challenges to materials are directly linked to the talking points of today’s conservative

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Matt Krause), isn’t primarily intended to rouse a base and win midterm elections

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] While both are true, neither goes far enough to denounce the political movement and dark money funding

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Likewise, library workers and educators are facing targeted harassment by such censors in a way that undermines

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] This is not about social isolation nor about the age groups in question

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] And while the report offers some actions people can take to counter censorship, what they offer is

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] For readers and professionals just wading into the world of book censorship, ALA’s new resource is

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] You can read the report in full at ALA’s Banned Books Week resource page