"Record Surge: Book Bans Hit All-Time High in US Schools and Libraries"

The American Library Association reported a record high of 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship in US schools and libraries in 2023, with a 65% spike from the previous year. Many banned books related to LGBTQ+ issues or race, including well-known novels like Lord of the Flies and To Kill a Mockingbird. The ALA president emphasized that book bans are an attack on freedom to read and reflect an attempt to hide or eliminate diversity. The movement has grown in Republican-led states, with 17 states seeing attempts to ban over 100 books, posing threats to library professionals' employment and well-being.