American Library Association reports record number of demands to censor library books and materials in 2022 (nearly double 2021's record number)

[essentialsaltes]

The American Library Association (ALA) today released new data documenting* 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. The unparalleled number of reported book challenges in 2022 nearly doubles the 729 challenges reported in 2021.

A record 2,571 unique titles were targeted for censorship, a 38% increase from the 1,858 unique titles targeted for censorship in 2021. Of those titles, the vast majority were written by or about members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people of color.

The prevalent use of lists of books compiled by organized censorship groups contributed significantly to the skyrocketing number of challenges and the frequency with which each title was challenged. Of the overall number of books challenged, 90% were part of attempts to censor multiple titles. Of the books challenged, 40% were in cases involving 100 or more books

Polling conducted by bipartisan research firms in 2022 showed that voters across the political spectrum oppose efforts to remove books from libraries and have confidence in libraries to make good decisions about their collections.

ALA will unveil its highly anticipated list of the top 10 most challenged books in the U.S. on Monday, April 24 during National Library Week, along with its full State of America's Libraries Report.

 

[Pommer]

Nothing in American society is more sacred than ”freedom of [my] speech”.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Book bans are soaring in U.S. schools, fueled largely by new laws in Republican-led states​

Fearing criminal penalties, public schools throughout Missouri removed hundreds of books from their libraries after state lawmakers last year made it illegal to provide students with “sexually explicit” material — a new law that carried punishment of up to a year in prison.

In a report published Thursday by PEN America, the nonprofit free speech organization found 1,477 instances of books being prohibited during the first half of the 2022-23 academic year, up 28.5% from 1,149 cases in the previous semester.

“It’s a set of ideas, it’s themes, it’s identities, it’s knowledge on the history of our country — these are the kind of bigger buckets of what is being removed, restricted, suppressed in public schools and public school libraries,” Meehan said.

Forbidden books are largely by and about people of color and LGBTQ individuals, the organization found.

The clash over books is not new, but the tactics are changing. Once spurred mainly by concerned parents, book removals are increasingly powered by organized groups, elected leaders and legislation targeting titles that don’t align with their values, PEN America found.

According to PEN America, nearly a third of the book bans this school year were the direct result of newly enacted state laws in Florida, Utah and Missouri. But it’s very likely that the laws, which are often ambiguous, indirectly led to many more book bans by creating a “chilling effect” in some states, PEN said.

 

[Say it aint so]

Sexually explicit means any communication, language, or material, including a photographic or video image, that relates to or describes sexual conduct, as defined by Section 43.25.

I guess that means no Bibles should be marketed to kids.

 

[rjs330]

Sexually explicit means any communication, language, or material, including a photographic or video image, that relates to or describes sexual conduct, as defined by Section 43.25.

I guess that means no Bibles should be marketed to kids.

And how does Section 43.25 define sexual conduct.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

I'd be interested in some more granular breakdowns of the content that was the target of the restriction attempts.

I think these numbers have the potential to be misleading (not saying they are, without the granular data, who knows...just saying they have the potential to be)

If the data showed that people were making a thousand requests, spread across hundreds of older books that had been around for a long time without any complaints previously, that would support the notion that this is some kind of "scorched earth" attempt by conservatives to restrict anything and everything they don't like as some part of their approach to the culture war.

However, if this was a case where the lion's share of restriction attempts were aimed a new titles, and ones that were specifically themed around certain controversial topics that weren't often the subject of most books previously, then that would be something very different.


Or another way of putting it.

If 5 people stroll into a library with a list of 1,000 books (spanning all genres, spanning 5 decades, and were never complained about before), that would be indicative of people being emboldened by the culture war stuff.

If a swath of new titles (that featured topics and content that would've been considered unthinkable in a school library 5 years ago) popped up, and 1,000 people came into demand it get removed, that's something different.

While the number of "ban requests" is technically the same, they're indicative of two different cultural dynamics.



As a hypothetical, if I ran a video rental place (I know, perhaps I'm dating myself a bit, those don't exist anymore)...if from 2015-2020, I averaged about 20 complaints or "requests for removal". If, in 2021, I started stocking softcore Cinemax material right on the shelves next to other titles in the young adults section, it wouldn't be surprising to see that number of "requests for removal" jump up exponentially and start getting more complaints. It wouldn't automatically mean that people got "less tolerant", it would mean that I put something on the shelves that was pushing the envelope way outside of most people's comfort level.


It becomes a question of determining the degree to which it's shrinking tolerance window vs. an attempt to radically expand Overton window.

 

[Say it aint so]

And how does Section 43.25 define sexual conduct.

Some of what can be found in the Bible. Wives ravished, recounting of sexual act, etc. I mean I don't describe my joyful description of a woman's breasts to my grandchildren, but the Bible does. Now, if a book about two Mom's used the same kind of Bible breast language, that book would be banned as fast as lightening.

 

[rambot]

Hey guys. Come on. Haven't you heard the Republicans.

They aren't banning books. They aren't even pulling books for review. At least not in how us stupid left leaning child predators think.


They are just banning books. But NOT "banning" the way us communists ban books, the way TRUE American Patriots ban books: By banning books but then tell people they are not banned and there are no banned books because they are the party of freedom and they are just trying to protect their children from ideas they don't like sex predators.

 

[rjs330]

Some of what can be found in the Bible. Wives ravished, recounting of sexual act, etc. I mean I don't describe my joyful description of a woman's breasts to my grandchildren, but the Bible does. Now, if a book about two Mom's used the same kind of Bible breast language, that book would be banned as fast as lightening.

I asked you how Section 43.25 defines sexual conduct. Not how what the bible says.

 

[Say it aint so]

I asked you how Section 43.25 defines sexual conduct. Not how what the bible says.

I retract and use your standard, "remove all sexually explicit material from schools and children's sections in public libraries."
So yes, when do you suggest the good book starts to get removed?

 

[Zoii]

What happened to God that he tells his followers that sex is immoral and you'll burn in hell for ever and ever in abject misery if you dare have sex - unless you're married.... and its with that person you married...... and the person you married is of the opposite sex..... but it doesn't matter if its a child bride - all good there

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

MOD HAT ON

Hello, we've had a small cleanup in this thread. Please feel free to continue the discussion. Such topics are good to have open communication about, but some of the wording was too graphic for CF. Thank you for understanding.

MOD HAT OFF​

 

[essentialsaltes]

Book bans are soaring in U.S. schools, fueled largely by new laws in Republican-led states​

According to PEN America, nearly a third of the book bans this school year were the direct result of newly enacted state laws in Florida, Utah and Missouri. But it’s very likely that the laws, which are often ambiguous, indirectly led to many more book bans by creating a “chilling effect” in some states, PEN said.

'Sloppy and rushed' Florida book law causes 'confusion' among school-district attorneys​

The Miami Herald recently "obtained email exchanges among school-district attorneys and the Florida Association of District School Superintendents," displaying the the lawyers' "confusion" over a new bill that places restrictions on which books students can read in schools.

The board suggests, "Florida lawmakers, so good at politicking, seem to have forgotten the basics of lawmaking: writing clear policies that the rest of the state can follow," concluding, "If a group of lawyers can't figure out what a law does, that's the sign of one of two things: The Legislature, egged on by Gov. Ron DeSantis, got sloppy and rushed through poorly written bills that didn't get properly vetted. Or vagueness is the intent."

 

[essentialsaltes]

'Sloppy and rushed' Florida book law causes 'confusion' among school-district attorneys​

Florida school district orders librarians to purge all books with LGBTQ characters ​

Librarians in public schools in Charlotte County, Florida, were instructed by the school district superintendent to remove all books with LGBTQ characters or themes from school and classroom libraries.

UPDATE (9/26, 3:29 PM): A spokesperson for the Charlotte County School District sent this additional statement: “Books featuring LGBTQ characters are accessible in the media center for grades 9-12. While they may not be utilized for classroom instruction

Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has insisted that allegations that his policies, including the "Don't Say Gay" law, are being used to ban a wide range of books is a "hoax." DeSantis claimed that the only books being removed from Florida libraries are "pornographic and inappropriate materials that have been snuck into our classrooms and libraries to sexualize our students violate our state education standards." But in Charlotte County, DeSantis' policies are being used to justify purging all books with LGBTQ characters, even if there is no sexual content.

[I am contractually obligated to announce that the formal title of the law being used to remove all books with gay characters from school libraries in this county is the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act.]

 

[essentialsaltes]

75 more books banned from Hanover County [VA] Schools​

Some of the books include:

• Forever by Judy Blume
• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
• Wicked by Gregory Macguire
• Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

This latest move comes after the Hanover County School Board voted in June to adopt a new policy allowing residents to file challenges to remove books with sexually explicit material rather than allowing educators to assess the content of the libraries adequately.

“Teachers are really afraid to talk out about it,” Kronenberg said. “They basically can’t speak publicly for fear of reprisals.”

 

[Danny&Annie&theChristmas]

Hey guys. Come on. Haven't you heard the Republicans.

They aren't banning books. They aren't even pulling books for review. At least not in how us stupid left leaning child predators think.


They are just banning books. But NOT "banning" the way us communists ban books, the way TRUE American Patriots ban books: By banning books but then tell people they are not banned and there are no banned books because they are the party of freedom and they are just trying to protect their children from ideas they don't like sex predators.

Cover it up as they may, the open secret that homosexuality is, for the most part, caused by pedophilia is getting out to the masses little by little.

 

[GreatLakes4Ever]

Cover it up as they may, the open secret that homosexuality is, for the most part, caused by pedophilia is getting out to the masses little by little.

Citation needed

 

[rambot]

Cover it up as they may, the open secret that homosexuality is, for the most part, caused by pedophilia is getting out to the masses little by little.

Tell you what. Why don't you take this level of nonsense and bring it over to the Conspiracy forum? This is the kind of gossipy nonsense meant for dillusional old bitties arguing on a porch.

Nobody with a functioning knowledge of either of those topics think that. The only people who think that are ignorant and TOTALLY cool with bearing false witness.

Does that describe you?

 

[Danny&Annie&theChristmas]

Tell you what. Why don't you take this level of nonsense and bring it over to the Conspiracy forum?

Nobody with a functioning knowledge of either of those topics think that. The only people who think that are ignorant and TOTALLY cool with bearing false witness.

Does that describe you?

Cry much?

 

[rambot]

Cry much?

ouch. Well thought response though I haven't heard that since about the 90s. Were you going to address bearing false witness or wear the label with pride?