Book requests on library shelves are increasing in the UK, with some authors and publishers targeted by pressure groups. The trend mirrors the situation in the US, where 72% of book bans last year were brought forward by organized groups.
According to an associate professor at UCL, UK school librarians have reported being targeted by these groups online and facing distress due to book challenges. Most requests for censorship appear to come from individuals or small groups, unlike in the US.
The types of books targeted may differ, with LGBTQ+ materials appearing to be more frequently challenged in the UK than in the US. The American Library Association found that 72% of book bans in the US were related to race, ethnicity, and social justice issues, whereas in the UK, attacks often centered on LGBTQ+ titles.
UK librarians face a challenge in providing access to a wide range of perspectives due to the lack of robust evidence about how widespread censorship is. Most libraries follow the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals’ ethical framework, which prioritizes the availability of published materials.
The rise in book requests highlights the need for libraries to feel confident in rejecting demands for censorship. “It’s vital that libraries provide access to a wide range of perspectives if they are to facilitate the free exchange of ideas,” said Louis Coiffait-Gunn, CEO of Cilip.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/14/librarians-in-uk-increasingly-asked-to-remove-books-as-influence-of-us-pressure-groups-spreads