Title: About Banned & Challenged Books | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues
Headings: About Banned & Challenged Books
About Banned & Challenged Books
Does ALA ban books?
What's the difference between a challenge and a banning?
Why are books challenged?
Who Challenges Books?

Content: For more information on ALA's efforts to raise awareness of censorship and promote the freedom to read, please explore Banned Books Week. What's the difference between a challenge and a banning? A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. Due to the commitment of librarians, teachers, parents, students and other concerned citizens, most challenges are unsuccessful and most materials are retained in the school curriculum or library collection. Why are books challenged? Books usually are challenged with the best intentions—to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information. See Notable First Amendment Cases.