![Graphic celebrating Banned Books Week from October 1-7, 2023, by the American Library Association with "Let Freedom Read" logo.](https://glensidepld.org/files/BBooks-Week-2023-1024x538.png)
This is a dangerous time for readers and the public servants who provide access to reading materials. Readers, particularly students, are losing access to critical information, and librarians and teachers are under attack for doing their jobs.
![Illustration of a smiling person with curly blonde hair, blue eyes, and rosy cheeks wearing a black jacket over a blue top.](https://glensidepld.org/files/Deborah-Caldwell-Stone-150x150.jpg)
Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. For more than 40 years, the annual event has brought together the entire book community — librarians, teachers, booksellers, publishers, writers, journalists, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular. The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship.
![Graph showing 2022 ALA-tracked book challenges: 82% books, 7% other, 6% displays, 4% programs, and 1% films. "Let Freedom Read.](https://glensidepld.org/files/2022-Censorship-1-1024x683.png)
![Infographic titled "Censorship by the Numbers" showing book challenges in public, school, and higher education libraries.](https://glensidepld.org/files/2022-Censorship-2-1024x683.png)
![Pie chart showing sources of censorship challenges: 30% parents, 28% patrons, 17% political/religious groups, 15% board/admin.](https://glensidepld.org/files/2022-Censorship-3-1024x683.png)
![Infographic titled "Censorship By The Numbers" showing a sharp increase in book challenges from 2019 to 2022.](https://glensidepld.org/files/2022-Censorship-4-1024x683.png)
The American Library Association (ALA) documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. The unparalleled number of reported book challenges in 2022 nearly doubles the 729 book challenges reported in 2021. Of the record 2,571 unique titles targeted for censorship, the most challenged and reasons cited for censoring the books are listed below: