Library Book Censorship

The cluster debates whether public libraries removing or not stocking certain books constitutes censorship or banning, versus legitimate curation decisions, amid discussions of political attacks on libraries and comparisons to book sales.

📉 Falling 0.5x Politics & Society
1,896
Comments
19
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#2103
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Keywords

US IMO ILLEGAL www.ala IA CSAM ALA FBI axios.com xkcd.com libraries library books book public copyright academic cartel ban having said

Sample Comments

pimlottc Mar 18, 2018 View on HN

What's wrong with that? The library gets money and the book goes to someone that wants it. Win-win.

SilverElfin Aug 14, 2025 View on HN

They aren’t banning anything. You can still freely buy any of those books. They’re just changing what content public libraries spend money on. Not really much different from states deciding school curriculum.

gojomo Dec 14, 2013 View on HN

Do you also hope that libraries remove books you don't like?

trotsky Jan 12, 2011 View on HN

With opinions like yours it's a miracle we have libraries.

IncreasePosts Dec 26, 2025 View on HN

This is like saying libraries are bad because people a lot of people check out 50 shades of gray

leotravis10 Mar 16, 2024 View on HN

Awful take dude, you don't realize that libraries are currenty on the front lines of America's problems where in a alternative universe, the nation should have done the job not to mention that libraries are under attack by mostly all fronts (governments, politicians, publishers, copyright cartel, right wing zealots just to name a few).https:/

jejones3141 Aug 20, 2023 View on HN

Libraries bring author $$$/reader down considerably.

chrisbennet Aug 9, 2012 View on HN

Those authors must really hate public libraries then...

heavyset_go Aug 1, 2025 View on HN

There's a reason public libraries are under attack, and it's this.

tptacek Sep 5, 2024 View on HN

Libraries are not allowed to do what IA did!