This is the latest phase in the nationwide book banning movement that our friends at PEN America have been tracking since 2021. Their latest report: Out of Circulation: Expanding Censorship in Public Libraries, digs deeper into these new attacks on public libraries and librarians.
The book banning movement isn’t just about taking away our books. It’s also about extremists controlling whose stories get told, what ideas get shared, and what information is freely available for everyone to learn.
Now they’re coming for our beloved librarians. Here’s how, according to the report:
How is censorship expanding in public libraries?
- Books are being banned and removed. 51% of the American Library Association’s documented book bans in 2025 were in public libraries. Bans continue to target books about sex education, gender identity, and race.
- Book displays are being challenged. The same people who are banning books are also demanding that library displays get taken down. They’ve challenged displays on Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Pride Month, and Banned Books Week, to name a few.
- Public events like story times and author readings are being challenged or cancelled. Story hours with drag performers are often targets. One in Massachusetts was cancelled due to bomb threats and another in Nevada was cancelled after a librarian was injured by an extremist protestor. These cancellations silence authors, hide diverse representation, and take away opportunities for discussion and learning.
- Rules are changing about how and where books are shelved in the library. This sneaky tactic called “reshelving” ignores age recommendations given by authors, publishers, and librarians. Instead, extremists force librarians to reclassify children’s books as young adult, or young adult books as mature, so that younger readers can’t find them.
- Books are being mislabeled. Similar to reshelving, this tactic subjectively places stickers or warning labels on books. They often include misleading claims of “sexual content” which actually stigmatize age-appropriate health topics, making it harder for young people to learn from a wide range of experiences and perspectives.
How are public libraries under attack?
- Local politicians control how libraries are run. The American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights says libraries should offer books and materials on all points of view without political interference. But public libraries are usually managed by local boards who are either elected or appointed by elected officials. When politicians engage in culture wars like book banning, they use their power over library boards to turn censorship into policy, and we all pay the price.
- Library funding is threatened or cut. Public libraries are funded by public dollars from local, state, and even the federal government. When extremists are in control of library management, they are also in control of its funding. They threaten to take away funds – and sometimes do! – if librarians don’t comply with censorship mandates. This is how the Fairhope Public Library in Alabama lost $22,000 in state funding in 2025 and more is being withheld this year.
How are librarians under attack?
- Librarians are being fired. PEN America’s report documents many examples of librarians – from local public librarians to the Librarian of Congress – being fired for not complying with censorship mandates.
- Librarians are the targets of harassment, intimidation, and violence. Library workers reported more than 8,000 incidents of harassment and assault in one 2024 survey. They fear for their safety, which leads to stress, anxiety, and burnout. Some are leaving the profession entirely.
- Professional associations are targeted. Some states including South Carolina, Florida, and Texas have cut ties with the American Library Association, the main professional association for librarians. This hurts the professionalism of the entire field.
- Librarians face new legal liabilities. Arkansas isn’t the only state to pass laws criminalizing librarians – Mississippi, Iowa, and West Virginia have as well.
All of these actions have a chilling effect on librarians. They either overcomply with censorship so they can keep their jobs, or they quit. Either way, we all suffer.
Americans have always loved our libraries and librarians. Benjamin Franklin championed libraries as fundamental to our democracy because they make knowledge accessible to everyone. He founded our first lending library in Philadelphia before he helped found America!
Public libraries continue to be an equalizing space, giving free access to books and materials regardless of our income or class. They’re also the heart of our communities, providing essential services like free internet and gathering spaces.
Need some good news after all of this? PEN America’s report also shares inspiring stories of librarians who fought censorship and the communities that protected them.
We’ve pushed back against book bans for years (you can learn more about our Book Ban Busters here) and we’ll help you take more easy actions over the next few weeks to protect the freedom to read.