Chicago, IL June 17, 2025. The EveryLibrary Institute, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting libraries and librarians, has released a new report: The Censorship Acceleration: An Analysis of Book Ban Trends After 2020. Written by researcher Marianne Wood Forrest, the report provides an in-depth analysis of how coordinated political, ideological, and religious forces have rapidly transformed the censorship landscape in America since 2020.
Censorship in libraries is not slowing down or hitting a plateau. It's accelerating—particularly as the country enters the first year of the second Trump administration. What began as sporadic challenges to books has evolved into a nationally coordinated campaign to suppress ideas, marginalize communities, and undermine public education.
Book bans have become a central tactic in a broader movement to destabilize public schools, promote school privatization, and restrict access to diverse perspectives. The Censorship Acceleration explores how these campaigns are being led by well-funded national organizations and political operatives, rather than arising from local concerns.
"Book bans are no longer simply about individual complaints or local concerns," said John Chrastka, Executive Director of the EveryLibrary Institute. "This report uncovers a sophisticated and interconnected political strategy intended to reshape our educational and cultural landscape. Understanding these underlying forces is crucial if we want to protect intellectual freedom, democratic education, and the future of public libraries."
The report draws on original research, expert analysis, and a detailed timeline to show how pandemic-era unrest was weaponized into a censorship movement with national reach. It also highlights growing opposition, particularly from student-led advocacy and new state-level protections for the freedom to read.
Key Takeaways:
- Book bans are increasingly driven by national political and religious groups—not local parents.
- Censorship is closely tied to school privatization efforts and attacks on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs.
- Groups like Moms for Liberty and Citizens Defending Freedom are central to this movement's funding and strategy.
- Project 2025 proposals—backed by groups like the Remnant Alliance and fueled by rising religious fervor—could further threaten public education, library systems, and the foundational principle of church-state separation.
- Widespread resistance is emerging, including student activism and new "right to read" legislation in multiple states.
The report also includes a directory of organizations involved in these debates and a comprehensive analysis of the shifting language, strategies, and stakes surrounding intellectual freedom in America.
About the Author
Marianne Wood Forrest served as a Research Intern with the EveryLibrary Institute during the Spring 2025 semester. She earned her Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from the University of Maryland in May 2025.
About EveryLibrary Institute
The EveryLibrary Institute is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to support libraries and librarians in the United States and abroad. We partner with allied organizations including foundations, philanthropic organizations, associations, non-profits, and academic institutions to enhance the perception of libraries and librarianship through direct engagement with the public.