Reported challenges in Massachusetts
On August 3, 2026, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners reported that formal challenges to library materials, programmes and services in Massachusetts public libraries had increased by 50% since FY2023. The agency described a state where attempts to censor library materials had historically been few, if any, in a given year.
Written school-library policies
Massachusetts's An Act Regarding Free Expression, Chapter 189 of the Acts of 2026, requires each school district, charter school and local education agency to establish a written policy for its school library. Section 82B(a) requires the policy to cover:
- The selection of school-library materials, including textbooks, instructional materials, books and other library resources.
- The use of library materials and library facilities.
- Responses to challenges requesting the removal of library materials or restrictions on their use.
The policy must be in accordance with standards adopted by the American Library Association. It must also be posted on the website of the school district, charter school or local education agency.
Books awaiting a committee vote
When material selected by the school library teacher is challenged through a request for removal or restricted use, the written policy must provide for it to remain on the school-library shelves pending a vote. The school committee or, for a charter school, its board of trustees votes during the process for responding to the challenge, in accordance with subsection (b) of Section 82A.
The national comparison
The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 4,235 unique titles challenged in 2025. This was the second-highest total of unique titles it had documented, behind 4,240 in 2023. ALA released its 2025 data during National Library Week, April 19–25, 2026, reporting attempts to censor books and materials in public, school and academic libraries.
Pressure groups, government officials and decision makers initiated 92% of all book challenges in 2025, compared with 72% in 2024. Fewer than 3% of challenges originated from individual parents.
Reports from library professionals in the field and news stories published throughout the United States supplied the data. ALA said many challenges were not reported to it or covered by the press, so its count understates the year's book censorship.