The American Library Association reported that 5,668 books were banned from US libraries in 2025, marking a record high for book removals across the country. The figure represents 66% of all books that were challenged during the year.

In addition to the outright bans, another 920 books faced censorship through access restrictions, such as being relocated to different sections within libraries. This brings the total number of affected titles to over 6,500.

The most frequently banned book was "Sold," a 2006 novel by Patricia McCormick that deals with sex trafficking in India. The book has been a recurring target in library challenges across multiple states.

The American Library Association has been tracking book challenges and bans as part of its ongoing monitoring of intellectual freedom issues in libraries. The organization defines a ban as the removal of materials from library collections, while challenges refer to formal complaints requesting removal or restriction of library materials.

Library systems nationwide have faced increased pressure from community groups and local officials to remove books deemed inappropriate, with many challenges focusing on content related to sexuality, gender identity, and race. The debate over library collections has become a contentious issue in many communities, with librarians caught between competing demands from different constituency groups.