school libraries

Banned Books Week is under way, the annual campaign highlighting attempts to remove or restrict books in schools and libraries. Observers are sharing titles that have been challenged and debating the growing number of removals in recent years.

Texas state senators are discussing changes to the state's law governing books in school libraries, with proposals to tighten existing restrictions. The law, part of a broader national debate over what materials students can access in schools, already requires ratings or limits on certain content. Details of the proposed amendments and their chances of passage remain unclear, but the discussion has drawn attention from educators, parents and free-speech advocates.

A list circulating among readers notes that every library book Carrie White checks out in Stephen King's 'Carrie' has been banned. The observation has renewed discussion of the novel's themes of bullying and ostracism, and of the irony that the books chosen by a bullied outcast were themselves targeted for removal from libraries.

Banned Book Week is drawing attention to ongoing attempts to remove or restrict books in schools and libraries. Observers are using the week to highlight which titles are being challenged and to argue over the growing number of censorship attempts in recent years, particularly those targeting books on race, gender and identity.

The City of West Hollywood has presented a new artwork, Banned Books: The Handmaid's Tale, at the West Hollywood Library to mark Banned Books Week. The piece commemorates Margaret Atwood's novel, one of the most frequently challenged books in the United States, and highlights ongoing debates over censorship and book banning in libraries and schools.

A bookseller in Lakewood has spoken out about the growing number of book bans across the United States, warning that 'could be anything in the future' if the trend continues. The comments come amid an ongoing nationwide debate over which titles belong in schools and libraries, with critics of the bans saying censorship efforts are expanding and threatening access to a wide range of books.

Florida's removal of books from school and public libraries remains a contested issue, with critics calling the bans censorship and supporters defending them as parental protection of children. The story is circulating again through local news coverage in the Sarasota area, keeping attention on which titles are being pulled and how state policy is affecting classrooms.

A national report has placed Florida second among US states for the highest number of book bans. The finding, reported by WFSU News, adds Florida to the center of an ongoing debate over school and library content restrictions. The state's book removals have drawn repeated criticism from free-expression advocates, while supporters of the bans argue they protect children from inappropriate material.

Texas banned more school books than any other U.S. state last year, removing 8,193 titles from shelves, according to a report covered by the Dallas Morning News. The figure puts Texas far ahead of other states in restricting what students can read, fueling an ongoing national debate over school library content, parental control, and censorship in public education.

Public schools in the United States removed a record number of books from libraries and classrooms this school year, with tallies putting the figure at roughly 12,000 bans. Texas and Florida accounted for the majority of removals, reflecting statewide policies and district-level challenges there. Advocacy groups say the bans disproportionately target titles dealing with race, gender and LGBTQ themes, while supporters argue they protect children.

To mark Banned Books Week, a resource titled 'Finding Bold When Representation Is Banned' is being shared by Underground Bookshelf, aimed at helping readers and writers find books by and about marginalized groups despite rising book bans. The resource highlights ongoing concern about censorship and the loss of representation in school and public libraries.

Banned Books Week is drawing attention to censorship and the freedom to read, with coverage highlighting the growing number of book challenges in schools and libraries. Observers are urging readers to explore frequently challenged titles and to defend access to diverse viewpoints, as debates over what belongs on library shelves continue across the country.

School Library Journal features a conversation with the author and editor of 'Ours', a new picture book created to help families and children navigate pregnancy loss. The interview explores how the book approaches grief in an age-appropriate way and why librarians and educators see a need for resources on this rarely discussed topic.

PEN America has released its Banned Books List for 2026, documenting titles removed or restricted in schools and libraries. The annual list is closely watched as a measure of censorship trends in the United States, and each new edition typically reignites debate between free-speech advocates and parents or officials who back removals.

A Cornell Law School clinic is hosting a screening of the documentary The Librarians followed by a panel discussion on the lawsuit challenging book bans in Idaho. The event, titled The Right to Read, brings together legal perspectives on efforts to restrict library materials, a fight playing out in courts and school boards across the United States.

Libraries are marking Banned Book Week 2026 by pushing back against the rising number of book challenges and removals in schools and public collections. Coverage highlights how librarians are organizing displays, advocacy campaigns and community programs to defend access to contested titles and keep challenged books available to readers.

A new report says Texas school districts have removed more than 8,000 books from shelves, making the state a focal point in the nationwide debate over school library content. The findings are drawing attention from parents, educators and free-speech advocates, with critics arguing the scale of removals restricts students' access to literature, while supporters of such policies say districts are responding to community concerns.

New data indicate that challenges to books, particularly in schools and libraries, remain close to record levels. The figures suggest that efforts to remove titles from shelves have not eased despite ongoing national debate over censorship, content appropriateness, and intellectual freedom in education.

Book bans in US school districts increased further during the 2025-26 school year, according to a new report from K-12 Dive. The findings point to a continued escalation of efforts to remove titles from school libraries and curricula, extending a trend that has drawn national debate over censorship, parental rights and students' access to literature.

A new review examines 'The Librarians,' a documentary about book censorship and the librarians who resist it, calling the film timely and relevant to current debates over banned books. The review highlights how the documentary captures the pressures librarians face as challenges to books continue across schools and libraries, making it a discussion point in ongoing culture-war conversations.

Penguin Random House joined the Freedom to Read Foundation for a Save Our Stories event focused on resisting the growing wave of book bans in the United States. The event framed storytelling and reading as tools of resistance, drawing attention to censorship efforts in schools and libraries and rallying publishers, authors, and readers to defend access to challenged books.

Amnesty International is calling on people to show solidarity during Banned Books Week, the annual campaign highlighting efforts to remove or restrict books from libraries and schools. The human rights group ties book censorship to broader attacks on free expression, urging readers to defend access to challenged titles. Publishers Weekly reported the appeal as the week's observances draw renewed attention to rising censorship cases.

Manga, the Japanese-origin graphic novels that are among the most borrowed formats in U.S. school and public libraries, are being removed or challenged in a growing number of American book bans, according to PEN America. The free-speech group says the illustrated format, often popular with teen readers, has become a frequent target alongside other books facing censorship campaigns.

American Libraries Magazine is marking Banned Books Week 2026, the annual observance highlighting attempts to remove books from libraries and schools. The event draws attention to censorship debates in the United States, with librarians, authors and readers sharing challenged titles and defending free access to reading materials.

The American Library Association has released a list of the 150 most challenged books documented from 1990 through 2025. The release coincides with Banned Books Week and the ALA's official 150th anniversary on October 6. Librarians and readers are sharing the list as debates over book challenges in schools and libraries continue across the United States.

Book bans in U.S. schools have reached their highest level in five years, according to an update circulated by EdSource. The report underscores the intensifying battles over school library and curriculum titles, with parents, educators and advocacy groups clashing over what students should be allowed to read. The trend has drawn national attention as several states expand restrictions on books dealing with race, gender and sexuality.