Recent years have brought about a resurgence of book censorship in cities and states across the United States. Veatch grantee Beacon Press has released a new booklet, titled Book Bans Are Threatening Our Communities on the issue. The guide explores the long history of banning access to books and literacy in this country, and the way in which book bans have long been used as a tool against marginalized communities. Among the booklet’s findings is this troubling statistic: 2,571 unique titles were challenged at libraries across the country in 2022.
“This booklet lays out the current state of book bans in the United States and highlights the many devastating ways censorship impacts us all,” the booklet says in the introduction. It additionally includes a concrete list of actions anyone can take, with direct links to resources for combatting ongoing attempt to inhibit people’s right to read freely. We encourage everyone to use this guide to educate yourselves and others about the consequences of book bans and the steps you can take to oppose censorship in your own communities and beyond.
Download the entire booklet here: Book Bans Are Threatening Our Communities.