News & Features

Did booksellers throw librarians under the bus regarding censorship? Imagining there was more to the story out of ABA's Winter Institute, SLJ editor in chief Kathy Ishizuka explores common ground between bookstores and libraries and finds that when book people work together, good things can happen.

The editor of the most challenged book in America discusses the censorship uproar over the graphic memoir, its impact, and the role of publishers in these times.

The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom released its annual list of most challenged titles Monday. For 2022, the Top 10 has expanded to 13 and Maia Kobabe's graphic novel memoir takes the top spot for the second year in a row.

Battles over book banning continue at school board meetings and in state legislatures across the country. Now politicians are targeting publishers, too.

The report “Banned in the USA: State Laws Supercharge Book Suppression in Schools,” released Thursday, shows a 28 percent increase in book bans over the last six months, reflecting the impact of state legislation on censorship efforts across the country.

ALA hopes to spark community action with the day, which will culminate with a virtual conversation, "Protecting Free Expression and the Right to Read," hosted by Unite Against Book Bans coalition partners.

The CAA Foundation and the Campaign for Our Shared Future are harnessing star power to fight censorship. Launching today, #LetAmericaRead invites supporters to join the campaign to oppose book banning, which is occurring in public schools and libraries nationwide.

The judge's ruling is an early victory for residents who sued claiming that their Constitutional rights were violated by the book removals. Meanwhile, titles are removed from schools in Spotsylvania, VA, and legislation seeking to limit access and criminalize librarians advances in Arkansas and North Dakota.

Even in places without new and restrictive laws, classroom libraries and curricula are being impacted by censorship efforts.