It’s National Banned Books Week, and I’m sure you’ve seen us talk about it a lot. It’s an important topic! But in conversations about why books are banned, what books are banned, and why banning books does more harm than good, I’ve noticed that what gets lost is what it actually means to ban a book. I think sometimes when we say a book was banned, the dystopian image of books being forcibly removed from readers' hands and every single copy being burned comes to mind. Of course, there are reasons for that impression; history is rife with book burnings, and much media has supplied images of books being literally taken away from citizens. In our current 2026 reality, it’s not quite so visceral. So, what does banning a book actually mean?
The Misconception
A common perception is that if a book is banned, the federal government does not allow citizens to read or own it. This notion isn’t without merit, as national governments have supported book bans. The difference is that governments aren't the ones perpetrating them. Even the Nazi book burnings weren’t orchestrated by Hitler's National Socialist government. It did, however, openly support them.
Learn more: Nazi book burning from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
I’m not trying to downplay the harm of a book being banned or the role government plays; I’m only trying to illustrate that book banning doesn’t mean you can’t get hold of a book at all. I’m also saying that it’s a quieter, and therefore sometimes more sinister, affair.
Book banning in 2026 isn't the eradication of a book; it is limiting access to it.
Governments and Banning
I know what you’re thinking: “Hold up, there! Plenty of state governments are banning books!” Right. State governments. That, generally speaking, means your access is limited but not taken away entirely, and the same regulations won’t apply if you move to another state or school district – because it’s not the federal government dictating the terms. School libraries, and in some cases county or city-run libraries, will be barred from buying a book, usually because of pressure by a government official or government-appointed agency, such as a library board of trustees.*
That does not mean:
- You cannot buy the book at a large book retailer, like Amazon or Barnes and Noble or anywhere else you buy books.
- You cannot read the book in your own personal time.
- The publisher stops printing copies.
That does mean:
- Those who rely on free access to a book no longer have the option to read it.
- The book isn’t being taught in the school.
*Not all library boards of trustees are government-appointed. Some are elected. Very often, board members have no library experience and, almost but not always, do not have Master of Library Science Degrees.
Broader Impact
I mentioned that book banning is sinister, but you can still read a book, which could seem contradictory. Here’s why I call it sinister: if you’re a child in school, you likely don’t have the resources to buy the book online or drive to a store to get a copy. If you’re an adult who doesn’t have much disposable income, you might not spend what you have on a book instead of other, more pressing needs. In effect, book bans allow access to information and ideas to those who can afford to pay for it.
If the book isn’t being taught in schools, it’s also not exposing anyone to different ideas or ways of life (almost all banned books are books that cover LGBTQ+ or race-related topics), something education is ideally meant for since an academic setting is a safe way to discuss and understand different groups and ideas without judgment.
Invisible Censorship
Book banning also affects the books we see getting written or considered for publication. As more books are banned, authors and publishers begin to question what topics are worth writing and publishing because of the economic cost. Losing those stories doesn’t mean readers stop having the experiences those stories describe, and a healthy democracy relies on the exchange of ideas that come with asking hard questions.
There is an economic cost to writers self-censoring so they do not become political targets. After all, we might joke online about seeing the same tropes and eating it up every time, but there are only so many versions of Cinderella someone can stomach before the reveal stops being interesting.
What I mean to say is, there’s more at stake with book banning than the sensationalism.
Want to know how to fight back? Check out these books about book banning below:
HCPL is a Book Sanctuary
Book Sanctuaries like HCPL are committed to these principles:
- Collect and protect endangered books
- Make those books broadly accessible
- Host book talks and events, including sparking conversations about diverse characters and stories
- Educate others on the history of censorship, and current efforts to ban books
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