“Between January 1 and August 31, 2024, ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 414 attempts to censor library materials and services. In those cases, 1,128 unique titles were challenged. In the same reporting period last year, ALA tracked 695 attempts with 1,915 unique titles challenged.” PEN America’s preliminary report on book bans in public schools found nearly three times as many incidents during the 2023–2024 school year as in the year prior, although more than 80% of the book bans tracked were due to state laws in Iowa and Florida. Data also don’t account for incidents of self-censorship by educators who fear retribution if they include certain materials in their instruction.

AL: The Scoop, Sept. 23; PEN America, Sept. 23; Slate, Sept. 23