ALA Releases State of America’s Libraries 2024 Report

Report looks at censorship attempts, innovations, and artificial intelligence in US libraries

April 8, 2024

On April 8, the American Library Association (ALA) released its State of America’s Libraries 2024 report, an annual summary of library trends. The report is published during National Library Week, this year being held April 7–13.

Censorship attempts took center stage again in the 2024 report. The number of unique titles targeted for censorship surged by 65% from 2022 to 2023, reaching the highest levels ever documented by ALA, according to the report.

ALA recorded 1,247 attempts to censor materials and services at libraries, schools, and universities in 2023. Of the 4,240 unique titles that were challenged or banned in 2023, here are the top 10 most frequently challenged:

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit.
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit.
This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, sex education, claimed to be sexually explicit.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, rape, drugs, profanity.
Flamer by Mike Curato. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Reasons: Rape, incest, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI (equity, diversity, inclusion) content.
(tie) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, drugs, rape, LGBTQIA+ content.
(tie) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity.
Let’s Talk About It by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, sex education, LGBTQIA+ content.
Sold by Patricia McCormick. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, rape.

The Top 10 Most Challenged Books are featured in Unite Against Book Bans’ book résum é s resource. Launched in February, these résumés provide information to help librarians, educators, parents, students, and other community advocates defend books from censorship.

Each résumé summarizes the book’s significance and educational value, including a synopsis, reviews from professional journals, awards, and accolades. Where available, book résumés include information about how a title has been successfully retained in school districts and libraries after a demand to censor the book.

April 8 is also the second anniversary of Right to Read Day, a day of action that takes place the Monday of National Library Week. This year’s theme is “Don’t Let Censorship Eclipse Your Freedom to Read.”

ALA has announced that the theme for Banned Books Week 2024 is “Freed Between the Lines.” This year, Banned Books Week will take place September 22–28.

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