State of America's Libraries Report 2022 Promotional Tools

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Use these graphics and sample social media posts to help spread the word about the State of America's Libraries report! Click images to enlarge.

Reporters, please contact: Macey Morales, Deputy Director, Communications and Marketing Office, 91´«Ã½, mmorales@ala.org

Report Cover Image

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Cover art: State of America's Libraries Special Report: Pandemic Year Two, 91´«Ã½, Broadband, Top Ten Most Challenged Books, Legislative updates, and more.


After years of work by library professionals to make needed changes, the @LibraryCongress committed to subject headings that reflect the core value of social justice for @91´«Ã½Library members. #NationalLibraryWeek

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Libraries Build Business is a national initiative of @91´«Ã½Library supported by @GoogleOrg that helped @gwinnettlibrary build the New Start Entrepreneurship Incubator. #NationalLibraryWeek

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Twitter share: Georgia’s Gwinnett County Public Library created a program to help community members who have served time in jail or prison to create their own businesses.


.@Surgeon_General calls libraries “trusted messengers who let science lead, as they help Americans make informed health decisions for our families.” #NationalLibraryWeek

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Twitter share: Libraries and museums joined forces to boost COVID-19 information and vaccine confidence at the local level – where it matters most - with grants and support from the Communities for Immunity partnership.

Social Media Graphics

Read about the national trends and issues impacting libraries and find out which books made the Top Ten Most Challenged Books list in the State of America's Libraries Special Report: Pandemic Year Two. #BannedBooksList. #NationalLibraryWeek

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Twitter share: State of America's Libraries Special Report: Pandemic Year Two


Most books @OIF tracks that are challenged or banned are by or about Black or LGBTQIA+ people. We believe books are tools for understanding complex issues and young people deserve to see themselves reflected in a library’s books. . #NationalLibraryWeek

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The 91´«Ã½ Office for Intellectual Freedom recorded more book challenges in 2021 than in any year since they began collecting data. #BannedBooksList #NationalLibraryWeek

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Twitter share: In 2021, America’s school and public libraries experienced an unprecedented (record-breaking?) increase in attempts to ban books. OIF recorded 729 challenges to 1597 books.


.@91´«Ã½_PLA ’s survey provides the most current and complete snapshot of public library technology capacity. ; #NationalLibraryWeek

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Twitter share: More than half of public libraries report circulating technology, including laptops, hotspots, and tablets, for off-site use.


1 in 3 readers now read books on screens, and demand for ebooks is on the rise. Did you know it’s really easy to borrow ebooks from your library? Make it a #NationalLibraryWeek goal to download something great to read.

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Twitter share: Americans still prefer print books over ebooks by a margin of 3 to 1 but ebook usage increased by 25-20% in 2021.

Top Ten Most Challenged Books

For more information about the Top Ten Most Challenged Books list and Banned Books Week visit: .

Top Ten Most Challenged Books Social Media Graphics

Social media share graphic: Who initiates challenges? Statistics based on 715 responses. Patrons: 24%;	 Parents	39%; Board/administration: 18%; Librarians/teachers: 6%;	 Political/religious groups: 10%;	 Elected officials: 2%; Students: 1%.	 Where do challenges take place? School libraries: 44%; Public libraries: 37%; Schools: 18%; Academia/Other: 1%.

Social media share graphic: Where do challenges take place? School libraries: 44%; Public libraries: 37%; Schools: 18%; Academia/Other: 1%. Censorship by the numbers. ala.org/bbooks, #BannedBooksWeek

Social media share graphic: The 91´«Ã½'s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges in 2021. Here's the breakdown: Books, graphic novels, and textbooks) 82%; Programs, meeting rooms: 5%; Displays, exhibits: 4%; Films: 2%; Other (includes filtering, access, databases, magazines, online resources, artwork, social media, music, pamphlets, student publications, reading lists): 7%. Censorship by the numbers. ala.org/bbooks. #BannedBooksWeek

Check back soon for social media graphics featuring each of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books List.

#1 Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe Twitter | Facebook

#2 Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison Twitter | Facebook

#3: All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson Twitter | Facebook

#4 Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez Twitter | Facebook

#5 The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Twitter | Facebook

#6 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Twitter | Facebook

#7 Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Twitter | Facebook

#8 The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Twitter | Facebook

#9 This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson Twitter | Facebook

#10 Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin Twitter | Facebook

220331-oif-bbw22-CHALLENGEDBOOK-twittershare-1

Social media share graphic: Reasons for Challenges: Word cloud: Prominent words are: Sexually Explicit, Critical race theory, Obscene, Woke, LGBTQIA, Indoctrinating kids, Profanity, Pornography, Polarizing, and Pedophilia. Each word in this graphic is cited from 2021 censorship reports. Other smaller words: Political Viewpoint, Body Description or Function, Horror or Scary to Minors, Suicide, Racist Content, Drugs, Unsafe or Causes Harm, Homophobic or Transphobic, Problematic Author, Violence, Sex Education, Religious Viewpoint, Anti-Family, Nudity, Inaccurate, Abortion, Rape, Occult, Low Literary Value, Sexual content involving a minor, Use of derogatory term for African-Americans, Racist author, Othering, Progressive liberal agenda, Upsetting people, Anti-police, Promotes racism, Totally evil, White privilege, Harmful misinformation, Non-traditional values, Racist imagery, Confusing, Anti-Semitic, Promoted a homosexual lifestyle,Dangerous and detrimental, N word, Racially divisive, false news,sexualization of women ,Developmentally inappropriate, Smut, Masturbation, Visual hate speech,Filth,Pedophilia, Too divisive and controversial,Grooming,gender dysphoria,police brutality,Triggering, Makes white babies feel sad,Inflammatory, Child abuse, Offensive Chinese stereotypes, Not a happy ending,bleak, Depressing, Hateful, Marxist, Racial indoctrination, Biased and unbalanced.

ALT Text for Top 10 Books of 2021 Infographic

The 91´«Ã½ tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021.

Of the 1,597 individual books that were challenged or banned in 2021, here are the top 10 most challenged:

1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe.

Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images.

2. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison.

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

3. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson.

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

4. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez.

Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda.

6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and use of a derogatory term.

7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews.

Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women.

8. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.

Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit.

9. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson.

Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content.

10. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin.

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

ALT Text for Censorship by the Numbers Infographic

Books unite us. They reach across boundaries and build connections between readers. Censorship, on the other hand, divides us and creates barriers.

In 2021, 1597 books were affected by censorship attempts. Learn more about ala.org/bbooks.Who initiates challenges? Statistics based on 729 responses..

Patrons: 24%; Parents 39%; Board/administration: 18%; Librarians/teachers: 6%; Political/religious groups: 10%; Elected officials: 2%; Students: 1%.

Where do challenges take place? School libraries: 44%; Public libraries: 37%; Schools: 18%; Academia/Other: 1%.Books and Beyond:

The 91´«Ã½'s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges in 2021. Here's the breakdown: Books, graphic novels, and textbooks) 82%;Programs, meeting rooms: 5%;

Displays and exhibits 4%; Films: 2%; Other (includes filtering, access, databases, magazines, online resources, artwork, social media, music, pamphlets, student publications, reading lists): 7%.

Reasons for Challenges: Word cloud: Prominent words are: Sexually Explicit, Critical race theory, Obscene, Woke, LGBTQIA, Indoctrinating kids, Profanity, Pornography, Polarizing, and Pedophilia.

Each word in this graphic is cited from 2021 censorship reports.