Free Downloads

American Library Association's official home for free downloads about banned books
Freed

We find ourselves, each other, and freedom in reading. The right to read is a shared value that we can all celebrate, but book bans threaten our rights and freedoms. Let’s stand together to champion our right to read and libraries and be Freed Between the Lines!

Raise awareness about frequently challenged books and the freedom to read with the below graphics and activities.

Censorship by the Numbers

Censorship by the Numbers. Image showing an assortment of visual representations for book ban data for 2023 and the Banned Books Week 2024 theme (Freed Between the Lines). In 2023, the American Library Association documented the highest number of titles targeted for censorship since ALA began compiling data more than 20 years ago. 4,240 unique titles were challenged last year, up from 2,571 targeted in 2022. Learn more at ala.org/bbooks.

The who, what, where, and why of censorship. Download and share our Censorship by the Numbers graphics to spread the word about challenges to library and school materials and services.

Download social media assets for Censorship by the Numbers from the gallery below by clicking on the icon in the lower right corner of the image.

Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023

Image showing the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023 and Banned Books Week 2024 artwork (Freed Between the Lines). The American Library Association documented 1,247 attempts to censor materials and services at libraries, schools, and universities in 2023. Of the 4,240 unique titles that were challenged or banned in 2023, here are the top 10 most frequently challenged. 1 “Gender Queer,” by Maia Kobabe. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit. 2 “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” by George M. Johnso

ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom documented 1,247 demands to censor library books and resources in 2023. The number of titles targeted for censorship surged 65% in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching the highest levels ever documented by OIF in more than 20 years of tracking: 4,240 unique book titles were targeted for removal from schools and libraries. These are most challenged, including reasons cited for censoring the books.

Download social media assets for the Top 10 Most Challenged Books from the galleries below by clicking on the icon in the lower right corner of the image.

Banned Books Week Sharables

Banned Books Week 2024 will take place September 22-28, 2024. Banned Books Week is an annual event that celebrates the freedom to read and draws attention to the harms of censorship. Use these assets to show your community that your library is participating in Banned Books Week 2024.

Download social media assets for Banned Books Week from the gallery below by clicking on the icon in the lower right corner of the image.