Watchdog Group Launches FOIA Tour to Expose Book Bans

MuckRock and partner organizations are systematically requesting public records to map banned books across the US during Banned Books Week.

MuckRock, 404 Media, the Trans Journalists Association, and the Marshall Project are coordinating Freedom of Information Act requests to identify which books are being censored and where.

The initiative comes as Banned Books Week draws attention to literary censorship nationwide. The organizations plan to file FOIAs across multiple jurisdictions to obtain public records on book removals and challenges.

Why it matters: Book challenges have surged in recent years, particularly targeting titles featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes addressing race and sexuality. By filing coordinated FOIA requests, these groups aim to create a transparent, data-driven picture of censorship patterns in schools and libraries.

The "FOIA tour" approach democratizes access to censorship information—traditionally scattered across individual school districts and library systems. Public records requests force disclosure of which organizations are targeting books, on what grounds, and with what success.

Key detail: The Marshall Project's involvement signals interest in First Amendment implications across multiple institutional contexts, not just schools.

The effort echoes growing scrutiny of book challenges by groups like the American Library Association, which reported a record 1,247 book challenges in 2023.

Developing: Specific tour dates and participating jurisdictions not yet announced.

Source: MuckRock