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Censorship & Banned Books

Learn about the who, what, when, where, and why of banned books, censorship, and intellectual freedom.

About this guide

This guide will teach you about the who, what, when, where, and why of banned books, censorship, and intellectual freedom. Use the navigation menu to select a section. On each page you will find an overview and statistics about these topics, as well as information about banned books in the library, resources and organizations that support intellectual freedom, and how to report censorship

If you need help with library search tools and resources, just click on the Ask a Librarian page of this guide. 

What are Banned Books?

Banned books are books that have been: 

  • Removed from a library or libraries
  • Not allowed to be published
  • Not allowed to enter a country
  • Not allowed to exist; destroyed, often by burning

Source: UWF Libraries "What is a Banned Book?"

Challenge or Ban?

A challenge is an attempt by an individual or group to remove or restrict materials, based on personal objections.

A ban is the removal of challenged materials.

Challenges are more than expressing a point of view. They are an attempt to remove materials, restricting access to those materials to others. It is a threat to intellectual freedom and an attempt at censorship.

Source: American Library Association "Banned Book FAQ"