censorship By the Numbers 2019 Censorship is a dead end. It limits exploration and creates barriers to access information. The path toward the freedom to read starts at the library. Learn more at ala.org/bbooks.
Who initiates challenges?
18% 13% Board/ Parents administration what is a 12% Political/religious groups Challenge? 8% Librarians/teachers Attempt to 3% Elected officials 45% remove or restrict Patrons 1% Students materials or Statistics based on 361 responses services based on content Reasons for challenges
what is a Ban? Removal of materials or cancellation of services based Each word and phrase in this graphic is cited from 2019 censorship reports on content Where do readers on challenges censorship take place? 607
Total materials Had I had a book like 66% affected in Public libraries that on the“ shelf, I censorship might have realized a 19% attempts in 2019 lot sooner that I could School libraries (including books, love myself. I might 12% films, newspapers) have realized a lot Schools sooner that it’s O.K. 2% to feel different.” Academia +14% Community member on 1% Increase from keeping “Prince & Knight” Special/prison on a public library’s shelves libraries last year
Statistics based on 377 responses
Obviously, I’m a books and beyond Christian,“ and I take my God very seriously, The ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked but if I just simply ban 377 challenges in 2019. Here’s the breakdown: everything that’s going to be said about my God or about my faith, then I’m living in my own little, narrow world.”
56% 22% 9% 8% 5% Pastor on the inclusion of “The Curious Incident of the Books Programs, Displays, Films Other* Dog in the Night-Time” on a meeting artwork school’s summer reading list rooms * Includes social media, hate crimes, games, filtering, databases, newspapers, magazines
CENSORSHIP STATISTICS COMPILED BY: