News and Updates

Reasons to Love Libraries. Image of Mychal the librarian on a phone screen talking to the camera.

Got a Reason to Love Libraries? Share your story

March 26, 2024 | Comments Off on Got a Reason to Love Libraries? Share your story

“Reasons to Love Libraries” from School Library Journal and Library Journal is a yearlong editorial project and campaign to engage the public in reflecting on libraries.

Stack of books with titles crossed out

More than 4,000 Unique Titles Challenged: ALA Releases 2023 Censorship Data

March 14, 2024

On Thursday, the American Library Association released censorship data from 2023, showing a sharp increase in the number of unique book titles targeted for censorship.

Register now! March 5, 2024. National Day of Reading: A Celebration of Stories Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Youth. Human Rights Campaign, welcoming Schools. \National Education Association. American Association of School Librarians. hrc.im/NDORreg hrc.im/NationalDayofReading

Champion Diverse Voices: Celebrate National Day of Reading on March 5  

February 28, 2024

In a climate where book bans threaten the ability of young people to access diverse and inclusive literature, Welcoming Schools’ National Day of Reading stands as a powerful symbol of resistance and empowerment.

Banned Books for All (the word "Banned" is crossed out) Teen Banned Book Club. Book cover: The Downstairs Girl

NYPL Continues Nationwide ‘Books For All: Teen Banned Book Club’ with ‘The Downstairs Girl’

February 23, 2024

Starting February 21, readers across the country will have unlimited access to the award-winning young adult bestseller The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee as part of The New York Public Library’s nationwide Teen Banned Book Club.

Unite Against Book Bans is a national initiative to empower readers everywhere to stand together in the fight against censorship.

We are not alone. On both sides of the aisle, large majorities of voters and parents oppose book bans.

%

of voters oppose efforts to remove books from public libraries.

%

of voters oppose efforts to remove books from school libraries.

Full poll results and key findings available via the American Library Association.

And yet, attempts to ban books from libraries continue to rise at an unprecedented level across the country. The American Library Association reported 1,269 attempts 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.

Book bans harm communities.

Students cannot access critical information to help them understand themselves and the world around them. Parents lose the opportunity to engage in teachable moments with their kids. And communities lose the opportunity to learn and build mutual understanding.

Although book bans are nothing new, there were more censorship attempts in 2022 than at any time since the American Library Association began tracking more than two decades ago.

Illustration of a child looking at a gap in a bookshelf

If you believe...

  • Books are tools for understanding complex issues.
  • Young people deserve to see themselves reflected in a library’s books.
  • Parents should not be making decisions for other parents’ children.
  • Individuals should be trusted to make their own decisions about what to read.
  • Limiting young people’s access to books does not protect them from life’s complex and challenging issues.
Smiling Latin teen girl with down syndrome and her mom reading a book at home

Empowered by Reading

There are many important benefits of providing children and youth with a wide variety of developmentally appropriate reading materials - books which reflect their personal life experiences, as well a the experiences, stories, and histories of others in and beyond their communities.

Action Toolkit

Take a stand against book bans. Check out the UABB action toolkit and defend the right to read in your community.

Become a Partner

We can't defeat book bans alone. Unite with us as an organizational partner, and together we'll work to defeat censorship.

Merch Against Book Bans

Show the world that you unite against book bans with our official UABB apparel and totes, available in the ALA Graphics Store. All purchases support the Unite Against Book Bans campaign and our efforts to fight censorship.

This campaign is organized by the American Library Association and was launched with the generous support of the Steve & Loree Potash Family Foundation and the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Help us continue the fight against censorship. Your donation supports our efforts to defend the freedom to read for all Americans.

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