Overall, the number of individual titles challenged in both school and public libraries spiked by 65% — the highest level ever recorded by the ALA.
The American Library Association report released Thursday found that nearly half of the books challenged last year deal with LGBTQ themes or with race or racism, much like in years past.Attempts to restrict library books continued to accelerate last year, according tofrom the American Library Association. Overall, the number of individual titles challenged in both school and public libraries rose 65% from the previous year — the highest level ever recorded by the ALA.
"We're not seeing an individual read a book and raise a concern about a book," she says."We're seeing organized groups go to school boards, go to library boards, demanding the removal of dozens, if not hundreds, of books at a time, they are simply downloading lists from advocacy groups and demanding removal of those books."
As to what ultimately happens to those books, the ALA report doesn't say. The group says that's because the book challenge process takes time and because it's too soon to know what percent of cases result in books being removed or relocated and how many remain on the shelves.