What’s a book ban anyway? Depends on who you ask
![Librarian Sabrina Jesram arranges a display of books during Banned Books Week at a public library branch in New York City on Sept. 23, 2022.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3520x2640+220+0/resize/3520x2640!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F47%2F88%2F2e372c304822bfe7a16af03f31e7%2Fap22268636219090.jpg)
The term "book ban" is used a lot in media and elsewhere when addressing the rise in challenges to certain books being allowed in schools and public libraries. But is it more political hyperbole or a censorship alarm bell?
(Image credit: Ted Shaffrey/AP)
![](https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-4941240)