Censorship, of course, was the library story of 2022. This year, SLJ continued its coverage of the issue as it became a national story—and a national crisis. We have done our best to show the impact of censorship and book banning attempts on school and public librarians, as well as students, authors, and the community at large.

In 2022, librarians and students shared with SLJ their first-person accounts of censorship. In the magazine and online, we told the stories of those fighting back, dissected what happened in a Texas district that turned out to be the canary in a coal mine, and tried to offer the information and resources needed for the vital fight for intellectual freedom.

Here are SLJ’s most memorable censorship stories from the year:

What’s It Like to Be the Target of A Book Banning Effort? School Librarian Martha Hickson Tells Her Story.

Anatomy of a Challenge: A Book Ban in Leander, Texas Presaged a Pattern of Challenges Nationwide

School Librarian of the Year Amanda Jones Fights Back Against Online Attacks

Uniting Against Censorship: A First-Person Account from Banned Books Week Youth Honorary Chair

Playing Catch-Up to the Censors, the Fight for the Freedom to Read Needs a Grassroots Revolution

After Her Book Displays Drew Criticism, Librarian Elissa Malespina Lost Her Job. She’s Here to Say “I’m Not OK with This.”

 Students Counter Censorship Attempts with Banned Books Clubs

Grassroots Organizers Show How to Mount Censorship Counterattacks