Book censorship is … becoming the norm?
For those who honor the work and dedication of our librarians, booksellers, authors and fellow readers, that’s the disturbing conclusion of a just-published PEN America study, “The Normalization of Book Banning,” which reports that current efforts to ban books are “rampant” and “unprecedented.”
“Never before in the life of any living American have so many books been systematically removed from school libraries across the country,” the report reads.
Banned Books Week 2025 is Oct. 5-11 this year, and Let Freedom Read Day, which focuses on a variety of activities, including contacting elected representatives and reading a banned book, is Oct. 11.
Under pressure from groups that are overwhelmingly taking aim at books by or about people of color or LGBTQ+ individuals – and assisted by a recent rash of executive orders from the current administration – the result is that not only are more books being challenged, but the vast majority are being removed out of a “fear of legislation” rather than complying with a law.
In the period between July 2024 and June 2025, PEN America reports 6,870 instances of book bans, and nearly 23,000 cases since 2021 in 451 public school districts across 45 states. Stephen King, Ellen Hopkins, Sarah J. Mass and Jodi Picoult were the most-banned authors through the 2024-2025 school year.
Despite the bans, a recent study shows nearly 80% of those polled are confident that public schools are choosing appropriate books.
“These attacks on students’ rights and educational institutions are the symptoms of a much larger disease: the dismantling of public education and a backsliding democracy,” reads the PEN report.
One of the tools of book-banning forces is to describe books with LGBTQ+ characters as “obscene,” and then paint librarians as “pornographers” and “groomers.” Books on sexual education have been similarly targeted.
If the scapegoating of librarians is difficult to wrap your head around, you don’t have to imagine it: You can see footage of these efforts in action.
“The Librarians,” a stunning new documentary by Peabody Award-winning director Kim A. Snyder, provides an up-close look at the bravery and sacrifice of the librarians standing up for the right to access the books you want to read (as well as ignore ones you don’t).
The film opens in 2021 as Texas librarians grapple with a list targeting 850 books for review, aiming to weed out “pornography” or content that might cause students to feel “discomfort, guilt or anguish.”
An early scene seems to bolster this week’s PEN America findings, as a Texas school official is recorded telling librarians to start pulling books off the shelves to avoid running afoul of the governor.
This powerful film can be disheartening – and infuriating – as it documents the threats and verbal and online abuse directed at these librarians and their families, including the comments of a man who apparently showed up at a public meeting armed.
In the face of such vitriol, it can seem understandable why books are being removed in some cases just to avoid unpleasantness and abuse.
But there are heroes, too. High school librarian Julie Miller, who is married to a Baptist minister, is a brave advocate for books and kids. Despite this, she was removed from her job, she says, like “snuffing out a candle.”
Or the Rev. Jeffrey Dove, a minister who stood up for librarian Miller and students of color, whose history and heritage were being swept off the shelves.
Or Amanda Jones, the 2021 National School Librarian of the Year and author of “That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America,” who faces threats of violence for speaking out.
“They’re not banning just any books – they’re banning the best books,” says one librarian. “I see this as the civil rights fight of our time.”
“The Librarians” is in select theaters across the country, including locally in Los Angeles, Encino and Claremont.
Long Beach launches Books Unbanned
One of the more uplifting local efforts to respond to the current attempts to quash free speech kicked off in Long Beach this week. Books Unbanned provides free, unrestricted digital access to thousands of books for teens and young adults through the Libby app.
“It’s a nationwide program that several large public libraries have signed onto, offering e-book access to youth in areas where books might be under censorship,” says Cathy De Leon, director of the Department of Library, Arts, and Culture for Long Beach, during a phone interview. “It’s creating a process for your library system to be able to allow youth in other states, primarily, to access your e-book collection.”
In discussions of book bans and censorship, librarians are often forced to defend themselves and their work. But perhaps these conversations should instead focus on all the real and positive things they do to serve our communities?
“You think of it happening in other parts of the country, and it’s actually not that far from us, right?” she says, referring to recent developments in Huntington Beach. “And so to see my colleagues be demonized, or branded some horrific names and things like that, is really terrible.”
“It misses the mark in terms of the bigger picture of libraries, which is that we’re here to welcome and include everybody,” she says. “We’re not here to say this viewpoint is more important than another, but we are here to include all viewpoints.”
When asked how people can support the library, she has a ready response.
“Libraries could really just use people’s support — just keep coming, keep checking out books and keep using them,” she says, noting that usage is still coming back to pre-pandemic levels. “Use your public library, find out what they have and and come visit us, because we miss you.”
Finally, it’s always good to ask librarians what they’re reading.
“I’m actually reading a book right now by a children’s author — I used to be a children’s librarian. Her name is Erin Entrada Kelly, and the book is “At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom.” It’s actually her first nonfiction book, and it’s an interesting read because it’s written for a children’s audience, but it’s historical in nature. She’s just a really great writer, in general,” says De Leon, who told me her “all-time favorite picture book” is “Bark, George” by Jules Feiffer.
The Books Unbanned initiative, which is spearheaded by the Long Beach Public Library Foundation, was inspired by the Brooklyn Public Library’s efforts. To contribute to the program, go to the foundation website.
Booksellers and the Banned Books Read-In
I also reached out to Philomena Polefrone, the associate director of American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE), who underscored booksellers’ support for librarians.
“Indie bookstores stand with schools and libraries impacted by book bans. Booksellers themselves are censored when they face harassment and intimidation because of the books and events they curate or the opinions they express, as happened in at least 60 cases reported to us in the last year,” Polefrone said via email. “It is a testament to booksellers’ resilience and commitment to the principle of free expression that more bookstores than ever are observing Banned Books Week this year.”
A similar commitment to free expression fuels another event this week, the Banned Books Read-In, which is sponsored by audiobook service Libro.fm and the Silent Book Club.
Local bookstores, including Lido Village Books in Newport Beach, will be taking part, so I reached out to the audiobook service to find out more and one of our local bookshops.
“The outpouring of support proves there is a powerful, widespread desire to fight censorship and a vital need for collective action,” said Mark Pearson, co-founder and CEO of Libro.fm, via email. “We are deeply proud of all the attendees showing up to oppose book bans.”
Q. What is the Banned Books Read-In?
Libro.fm and Silent Book Club are working with more than 450 independent bookshops and libraries to protest ongoing censorship this Banned Books Week. These stores and libraries will be hosting read-ins, which will include reading time as well as activities to help fight bans (like writing postcards to their representatives). And all attendees will receive a free audio copy of Lulu Dean’s “Little Library of Banned Books” (a bookseller favorite at Libro.fm!). A complete list of Read-Ins is available and more info can be found here: https://blog.libro.fm/banned-books-read-in/
Q. What more would Libro.fm like to say about Banned Books Week?
Banned Books Week plays a vital role in helping to raise awareness about book bans and how everyone can fight them. Libro.fm supports the freedom to read and the booksellers, librarians, educators, authors, and publishers that make doing so possible. We work closely with organizers to fight legal challenges, raise awareness, and activate our community. This year, we also raised over $55,000 for public libraries during National Library Week.
Michelle Pierce, owner of Lido Village Books (Newport Beach) & Malibu Village Books (Malibu), will be hosting a read-in. She answered our questions via email.
Q. What do you have planned for the Banned Books Read-In?
It will be an intimate, fun meet-and-greet with the first 45 minutes devoted to hanging out, meeting new people with snacks and water. During this time, we’ll have an activity of writing to our representatives on why books are so important, especially in today’s world with the decline of children and adults reading.
The last 45 minutes will be a Silent Book Club reading session, where everyone who attends gets to find a cozy space in the store to read their banned book in a collective togetherness. We will close the doors to the public, so everyone gets the full time to hang out and read inside the bookstore.
Q. What would you like readers to know about the event or Banned Books Week?
Banned Books Week is an important week to draw attention & create a discussion about banned books as a whole. As an independent bookstore, it is our job to help re-envision how we look at the institution of banned books through education and programs meant to serve the community. Moreover, it helps create a discussion around the voices that are being censored and why.
Q. And finally, what books are you enjoying right now?
Oh! I just finished “Buckeye” by Patrick Ryan, and LOVED the story.
The week’s bestsellers
The top-selling books at your local independent bookstores. READ MORE
On the next Bookish, Patricia Cornwell discusses her newest thriller, “Sharp Force,” and Karen Palmer talks about her memoir, “She’s Under Here.” Oct. 17, 2025, 4:00 P.M. Register at scng.com/virtualevents Missed an episode? Catch up on previous Bookish shows.