2020 Censorship by the Numbers

Throughout history, books have been challenged for many reasons, including political content, sexual expression, or language offensive to some people’s racial, cultural, or ethnic background, gender or sexuality, or political or religious beliefs. In 2020, the list of most frequently challenged titles and resources address racism and racial justice, as well as share stories of Black, Indigenous, or people of color.

The ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) estimates that 82-97% of challenges remain unreported — this “silent censorship” prevents support, research, and resources to those who need it. Join OIF in reviewing the trends, statistics, and stories of the last year and how library workers can advocate for and defend challenged resources. Find out what support is available and how to know when a challenge should be reported.