1、The State ofAMERICAS LIBRARIESa Snapshot of 2025FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF READERS.FOR THE CORNERSTONES OF OUR COMMUNITIES.FOR ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR ALL.FOR THE FREEDOM TO READ.FOR THE PEOPLE WHO POWER POSSIBILITY.FOR THE FUTURE OF LEARNING.FOR OUR LIBRARIES.THE STATE OF AMERICAS LIBRARIES3 Cont

2、ents 4 Introduction 5 The Architecture of Democracy:Choosing the Future of Americas Libraries 6 Standing Together for the Freedom to Read 9 Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2025 10 Censorship by the Numbers 11 Libraries as Enduring and Evolving Literacy Hubs 13 Libraries Increase Services for Incarce

3、rated People 15 Libraries Take on a Tumultuous Washington 19 About This ReportALAs Celebrate National Library Week poster.The State ofAMERICAS LIBRARIESa Snapshot of 2025 Produced April 2026THE STATE OF AMERICAS LIBRARIES4INTRO D UC TIO NA Clarion Callby DAN MONTGOMERYIts a true joy to introduce thi

4、s years State of Americas Libraries report.Since I started in November,I have been amazed at the incredible work ALA and its member libraries and library workers do each day.When I was a high school English teacher,I used to say that the entire world comes into the high school,and I feel the same wa

5、y about our libraries.This report on the state of Americas libraries is in a very real way a report on the state of our nation.Unsurprisingly,then,there is much to be deeply concerned about in these pages,and much to bring hope.Ultimately,this report can serve as a clarion call to those who love lib

6、raries and our republic.ALA was successful in defending our libraries and our free speech rights on a number of fronts:in the courts,as we won back funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services,and in state houses around the country.In several states,we fought back against pernicious legi