In the last year (September 2023-2024) 29 states had new laws proposed in their legislatures that seek to restrict libraries. Out of these, 6 states have passed such legislation which target access to books either directly or indirectly. The wide-reaching impacts are felt by public and school libraries, as well as teachers and classroom book collections.
Common themes in this legislation include:
restricting access of minors to specific parts of a library
requiring the removal or relocation of books that are deemed "inappropriate," "offensive, or "obscene"
creating criminal offenses for teachers, librarians, or any other adult who facilitates access to targeted books
Enacting laws along these lines goes far beyond the normal practice of challenging books in specific libraries. Libraries regularly develop processes for their patrons to question the acquisition or placement of a book which usually results in a thorough analysis of the book, its target audience, and its artistic or scientific value. This process is meant to be collaborative and responsive to the community which the library serves.
For more on the trends this year in book challenges, visit our page "Challenged Books of 2023"