PEN America Report Warns US Public Libraries Face Breaking Point

The free expression advocacy group PEN America published a report on Tuesday titled "Out of Circulation: Expanding Censorship in Public Libraries," asserting that U.S. public libraries have reached a breaking point. The study details a rise in ideological censorship and book bans, specifically those targeting people of color and LGBTQ+ themes.

According to the report, this trend is accompanied by funding cuts, physical attacks on librarians, and the installation of politically appointed officials to override independent library boards. Specific examples include the appointment of activist Riley Gaines to a Tennessee library board and new legislation in Alabama and Idaho designed to increase government control over library directors.

While PEN America identifies coordinated attacks by groups such as Moms for Liberty as a primary driver of this censorship, the report notes a recent shift in Florida. Several Moms for Liberty candidates lost their seats in recent primary elections, suggesting a potential backlash against these efforts.