US Libraries Face Book Bans and Culture Wars, Librarians Fight Back

During National Library Week, librarians across the US are resisting book bans and political attacks. Sarah DeMaria, a school librarian in Pennsylvania's Hempfield School District, nearly resigned in 2023 after personal attacks and police reports over LGBTQ+ books. The American Library Association (ALA) reported 4,235 unique titles challenged in 2025, the second-highest total, with 92% of challenges driven by pressure groups. A national book ban bill targeting LGBTQ+ stories has advanced in the US House. In Philadelphia, Bernadette Cooke Kearney lost her job in 2013 due to funding cuts but returned after community fundraising. Tracy Fitzmaurice resigned in February 2026 after 34 years in North Carolina's Fontana Regional Library system following a backlash over a Pride display. In contrast, Zachary Stier in Boone, Iowa, focuses on community connection and literacy programs. ALA President Sam Helmick calls the attacks a class war and urges public support for libraries.