LibGuides: Banned and Challenged Books: Why Books Are Banned

How does a book end up banned?

Book banning is considered a form of censorship. By definition, censorship is the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are found to be "offensive". There are a number of reasons for why a book ends up banned, but it usually implies that someone has imposed their own morals and values into a work and want to keep those books away from certain institutions or places. This does not mean that the book is no longer published, but that it may not be shown in a particular library or school due to various reasons such as sexual content, offensive language, or unsuitable content for age group.

Where are books challenged?

Bannings take place most often in public libraries or schools from parents with the best of intentions. One or more people can choose to challenge a book from a moral standpoint.

How does someone challenge a book?

Once a book has been challenged, the individual who initiated the claim must:

read the whole book
fill out a challenge form
Explain why, how, and where in the book the offense has taken place

If the individual making the claim is successful, the findings will be presented in a hearing. It will be decided if the book will be removed from the collection or not. Bans take place on an institutional basis.

Banned and Challenged Books: Why Books Are Banned

How does a book end up banned?

Where are books challenged?

Bannings take place most often in public libraries or schools from parents with the best of intentions. One or more people can choose to challenge a book from a moral standpoint.

How does someone challenge a book?

Once a book has been challenged, the individual who initiated the claim must:

read the whole book

fill out a challenge form

Explain why, how, and where in the book the offense has taken place

If the individual making the claim is successful, the findings will be presented in a hearing. It will be decided if the book will be removed from the collection or not. Bans take place on an institutional basis.

Who initiates a ban?