Book censorship in the United States

Book censorship is the suppression of books considered, by the censors, as objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient for a variety of reasons. Book censorship can take multiple forms, including limiting access, challenging and banning. Broadly, censorship is defined as "the regulation of speech and other forms of expression by an entrenched authority." The overall intent of censorship, in any form, is to act as "a kind of safeguard for society, typically to protect norms and values, censorship suppresses what is considered objectionable from a political, moral, or religious standpoint." Book censorship, according to Henry Reichman, an English professor and author in topics pertaining to censorship, in the broadest sense "is the removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic, or educational material--of images, ideas, and information--on the grounds that these are morally or otherwise objectionable in the light of standards applied by the censor." The Marshall University Libraries, which conduct research on banned books in the United States, have defined a banned book as one that has been "removed from a library, classroom, etc." while a challenged book is one that "has been requested to be removed from a library, classroom, etc." by a censor. Censorship has been carried out in several localities in the United States by parents, school boards, lobbying groups, and other stakeholders in education, including clergy, librarians and teachers, all of who are referred to as censors. Banning, the most permanent and effective way of censorship, begins with a challenge from a censor and then progresses to the point that the book is no longer available to any student in the school, library or district.People For The American Way, an organization concerned with protecting progressive values such as equal rights and freedom of speech, reported that in the school year from 1991–1992, the success of censors to get books removed in some capacity rose to 41 percent from 34 percent in previous year. In response, several professional organizations such as the American Library Association (ALA), the Freedom to Read Foundation, and the National Coalition Against Censorship have employed various initiatives to help combat book censorship in all its forms. Combating book censorship with their advocation for First Amendment Rights, these long-standing organizations have been at the center of multiple Supreme Court cases spanning from the early 1970s.

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