Banned Books
Banned Books By Year
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2024's Top 10 Most Challenged BooksOut of the 2,452 unique titles targeted for censorship, this list captures the 10 most challenged books, as well as reasons cited for censoring those books. Each book also comes with its unique book resume, which helps students, teachers, librarians, parents, and community members defend books from censorship.
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Top 10 Most Challenged Books and Frequently Challenged Books ArchiveThe American Library Association condemns censorship and works to ensure free access to information. Every year, the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The lists are based on information from media stories and voluntary reports sent to OIF from communities across the U.S. Specific lists from 2001 - 2022 are included, alongside additional graphs and information from 1990 - 1999 and 2000 - 2009. Additionally, under the "Frequently Challenged Books List" area, you'll find most commonly challenged children's books, young adult books, classics, and books with diverse content.
Note: The American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom has only been collecting data about banned books since 1990. As a result, there are no data nor lists of frequently challenged books or authors before that date. Still, remember that book banning has been happening for centuries.
Banned Books List
These brochures list books challenged, restricted, removed, or banned. Click on the links below to download a PDF of each list from 2004 to the current year.
- Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2015-2016 (PDF)
- Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2014-2015 (PDF)
- Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2013-2014 (PDF)
- Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2012-2013 (PDF)
- Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2011-2012 (PDF)
- Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2010-2011 (PDF)
- Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books: 2010-2019
- Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2009-2010 (PDF)
- Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2008-2009 (PDF)
- Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2007-2008 (PDF)
- Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2006-2007 (PDF)
- Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2005-2006 (PDF)
- Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2004-2005 (PDF)
- Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2003-2004 (PDF)
- Top 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books: 2000-2009
- Top 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books: 1990-1999
How to Access Banned Books
Access hundreds of free Banned Books through the Internet Archive by clicking the links below:
- Banned Books on Internet Archive
- Recently Reviewed Banned Books
- Browse Banned Books by Subject / Keyword
You can also use these resources to locate your nearest libraries to browse collections, check out materials, circulate banned books, and more.
- Library Finder - Find any public library in the United States using your location or using a ZIP code, city, and state.
- Little Free Library World Map - View locations of Little Free Library sharing boxes from around the world. You can stock these boxes with banned books for others to read, or take a book for yourself.
- Little Free Library Banned Books Map - In partnership with the American Library Association and PEN America, find the areas hit hardest by book bans and the nearest Little Free Library book-sharing box locations to get involved in protecting the right to read.
- WorldCat Library Finder - Search for any library around the world based on the library name, postal code, or city name. You can also filter results by library type (public, academic, museum, archives, etc.).
Find Banned Books at ASU Library
You can watch this video on Library One Search, or you can access the Library One Search tip sheet. You can also read and follow these steps below:
If you're using Library One Search's Simple Search:
- Under "Searching For," change the option to "ASU Library Catalog" from "All Resources"
- Type in any keywords, title, or author you are looking for. (Tip: Use quotation marks to ensure the exact phrase and order are searched.)
- Change the option on dropdown menu to best match what you are looking for (for example, if searching for books by Margaret Atwood, you'll want to change the dropdown from "keyword" to "author.")
- Hit "Search" or the Enter button on your keyboard.
- On the right of the results screen, under "Filter My Results," limit results to "Books."
If you're using Library One Search's Advanced Search:
- Under "Searching For," change the option to "ASU Library Catalog" from "All Resources."
- On the dropdown menu "Any field," change it to reflect the title, author/creator, ISBN number, subject, or genre you want to search.
- Type in your respective search keywords or number.
- On the dropdown menu "Material Type," change it from "All items" to "Books" to include physical books and e-books.
After you find the book you want:
- If it is an electronic book, click "Full text available" to access the database where it is located.
- If it's a physical book and you want to search within the library, write down the call number (a string of one or two letters followed by numbers) and select "Locate" to see the respective library floor map.
- If you want to pick it up from the library of your choice, click the button "Request ASU Copy," select the pickup location of your choice; then, hit "Send Request."
- If ASU Library doesn't own the book or if the book is checked out, you can select "Request ASU Copy" to place a hold on the book or select "Request external copy" to try and obtain it via Interlibrary Loan. (Note: The request should be partially filled out, but still include as much information as possible.)