As the library world is preparing for the 2025 ALA Annual Conference (beginning Friday), the EveryLibrary Institute released a FREE and compressive report on the state of censorship in libraries since 2020. Below I have reposted the introduction to the report (found here) which includes the key takeaways and has access to the form you can fill out to receive the full PDF report.
Please do not ignore this post. Read the report, but remember, as the final point below says-- urgent advocacy is required. Feel free to use the information from my Keynote at the Bram Stoker Awards to help talk to you patrons about the support you need from them.
Make the choice to be informed on the state of book bans at this current moment by clicking here. The tide is shifting from parental groups to political and religious groups leading the banning charge, but resistance is also increasing. We are at a point where the scales are going to tip on way or another, and quite frankly, I am not sure which way they will tip. But what I do know is, once the tip away from intellectual freedom, it is going to be VERY hard to get those rights back.
REPORT: The Censorship Acceleration - An Analysis of Book Ban Trends After 2020
Censorship in libraries is not slowing down or hitting a plateau. It’s actually speeding up as we move into the first year of the second Trump Administration. In "The Censorship Acceleration", author and researcher Marianne Wood Forrest provides an in-depth analysis of how coordinated political, ideological, and religious forces have transformed the censorship landscape in America since 2020.
Drawing on original research, expert analysis, and the latest data, this report highlights how book bans have evolved from isolated parental concerns into a comprehensive political strategy aimed at undermining public education, silencing marginalized voices, and promoting a national agenda of school privatization.
The report examines the rise of well-funded “parental rights” groups, such as Moms for Liberty, and the use of censorship as a tactic in the broader culture war. It charts the shifting strategies, language, and power dynamics associated with this new wave of book bans. Additionally, it discusses the concerning impact of Project 2025 policies on federal education and library funding, emphasizing that the struggle for intellectual freedom is now closely linked to the fight for democracy itself.
Key Takeaways in the Report:
- Book bans are increasingly motivated by powerful political and religious groups rather than by local parental concerns.
- Censorship campaigns are closely connected to school privatization and efforts against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
- Coordinated campaigns are nationalizing what were previously local conflicts within school boards.
- Resistance is growing, particularly from student-led movements and states passing right-to-read legislation.
- The future of libraries, education, and civil liberties is at a critical juncture and requires urgent advocacy.
The Censorship Acceleration Report reframes the narrative surrounding book bans by linking the culture war to the privatization of public education and the erosion of essential democratic institutions. Whether you are a librarian, educator, journalist, policymaker, or concerned citizen, this report provides the necessary context and clarity to understand and respond to these escalating threats.
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