FILE-"All Boys Aren't Blue" is one of the books on a list of the 10 most challenged books in school libraries. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) WASHINGTON - The American Library Association (ALA) released a report revealing that book banning, attempted book banning, and threats against librarians rose over the past year.
This information is detailed in the ALA's annual State of America’s Libraries Report, released Monday. ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges of books at public schools and libraries resulting in nearly 1,600 book challenges or removals.
The most targeted books were by or about Black or LGBTQ individuals, according to the report. RELATED: Banned books from school libraries on the rise across the country"The 729 challenges tracked by ALA represent the highest number of attempted book bans since we began compiling these lists 20 years ago," ALA president Patricia "Patty" Wong said in a statement.
Wong added: "We support individual parents' choices concerning their child's reading and believe that parents should not have those choices dictated by others.