ALA Reports Surge in Book Challenges and Bans During National Library Week 2026

Overview:

The American Library Association reported that 4,235 books were challenged and a record number censored in 2025, with most efforts driven by organized groups and disproportionately targeting LGBTQIA+ and diverse voices.

During National Library Week (April 19–25, 2026), the American Library Association (ALA) released new data highlighting a continued rise in attempts to censor books and library materials across the United States in 2025.

According to ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF), 4,235 unique titles were challenged in public, school, and academic libraries last year—the second-highest number ever recorded, just shy of the 4,240 titles challenged in 2023. Of those titles, 1,671—approximately 39%—reflect the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals and people of color.

The report also documented 713 attempts to censor library materials and services, with 487 specifically targeting books. Notably, the overwhelming majority of these challenges—92%—were initiated by organized pressure groups, government officials, and other decision-makers, a significant increase from 72% in 2024. In contrast, fewer than 3% of challenges came from individual parents.

In total, OIF recorded 5,668 books banned from libraries in 2025, representing 66% of all challenged titles. An additional 920 books faced access restrictions, such as relocation within libraries or requirements for parental permission. Together, these figures mark both the highest number of titles censored in a single year and the highest rate of challenges resulting in censorship since ALA began tracking this data in 1990.