From September 22 to September 28, the IU East Campus Library will be celebrating Banned Books Week, a recognition of the freedom to read. Since 1982, the America Library Association has maintained a list of the most banned or challenged books in the US. This blog compiles a list of commonly asked questions, providing responses and links to resources.
What is a book ban?
According to PEN America, a book ban can be defined as “any action taken against a book based on its content and as a result of parent or community challenges, administrative decisions, or in response to direct or threatened action by lawmakers or other governmental officials, that leads to a previously accessible book being either completely removed from availability to students, or where access to a book is restricted or diminished.” This means that access to these specific titles is heavily restricted or eliminated entirely, which means readers are denied the ability to read these books for themselves.
What kind of books are banned?
The American Library Association states that, in 2023, 4240 individual book titles were banned or challenged, a 22% increase from the previous year. Of those titles, 47% feature LGBTQ+ and BIPOC characters or authors. A list of the top banned books from 2014 to 2022 show a wide range of subjects, from transgender adolescence to political satire to suicide:
2014: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
2015: Looking for Alaska, by John Green
2016: This One Summer, by Mariko Tamaki
2017: Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher
2018: (tie) A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss and Melissa by Alex Gino
2019: Melissa, by Alex Gino
2020: Melissa, by Alex Gino
2021: Gender Queer, by Maia Kobabe
2022: Gender Queer, by Maia Kobabe
What can be done about book bans?
Most book bans are made at the local level, focusing on school and, increasingly, public libraries. That means participation in local school board meetings, municipal council meetings and volunteering are important avenues for fighting book bans. Another is to share access to banned books. Books Unbanned, a project of four public libraries, allows teens and young adults aged 14-21 to access eBooks and resources, including banned materials. It is free to access, although each library has its own procedure for requesting access. Another idea is to spread awareness of the quality and importance of banned books. Many banned titles, such as How to be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, are written by well-respected authors and have received numerous awards. Finally, and most importantly, is to vote for candidates who have no interest in banning books. . Indiana residents can register to vote here, while Ohio voters should access this link. In both states, in order to vote in the November election, all voters must be registered by October 7.
Book bans have been increasing since 2019, and with some activist groups creating resources to make book banning easier, the trend is likely to continue. Yet the right to read is worth protecting and securing for every reader. Interested in learning more about book bans? Intrigued by how a book’s contents can lead to censorship? Want to do more about preventing book bans? Ask us! iueref@iu.edu