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Are Libraries Quietly Removing Books? Uncovering Changes in the Stacks

Posted on August 14, 2025

A Missing Book Sparks Questions

Imagine searching your library’s online catalog for a digital book on the Schumann Resonance—a fascinating topic about Earth’s electromagnetic frequencies, often linked to science and wellness. You find the title listed, but there’s no copy available, no option to place a hold, and no explanation why. This was my experience recently, and it raised a bigger question: Are libraries quietly removing materials, especially during times when no one’s watching, like the 2020 COVID-19 closures?

What Are Quiet Removals?

“Quiet removals,” sometimes called “soft censorship,” refer to books or resources removed from library shelves or digital collections without public announcement or formal review. Unlike publicized book bans, these actions fly under the radar, often bypassing community input or transparency. Since 2020, reports suggest libraries, particularly in the U.S., have removed materials—especially on topics like race, gender identity, or controversial themes—without always telling patrons why.

The 2020 Closures: A Perfect Storm?

When libraries closed their physical branches in 2020 due to the pandemic, they shifted to digital services, leaving physical collections largely inaccessible. This created a window where changes to catalogs could happen with less oversight. Public meetings were paused, and patrons couldn’t browse shelves to notice missing titles. Some libraries used this time to “weed” collections—removing outdated or low-use items—but could controversial books have been quietly removed too?

For example, my search for a digital book on the Schumann Resonance turned up empty. Was it a licensing issue, a budget cut, or something else? Books on niche topics like this, especially those tied to wellness or alternative health, might be flagged as pseudoscientific and removed to avoid controversy. Without transparency, it’s hard to know.

What’s Being Removed?

Since 2020, reports from organizations like PEN America and the American Library Association (ALA) highlight a surge in book challenges and removals, particularly in school libraries. Here’s what’s been targeted:

• Books on Race and Racism: Titles like The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison and The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander have been removed from districts like Klein ISD in Texas, often labeled “controversial.”
• LGBTQ+ Content: Books like Flamer by Mike Curato or Being Jazz by Jazz Jennings have vanished from shelves in states like Florida and Kentucky, driven by laws restricting “sexual content.”
• Social Justice and History: Materials on slavery, the Holocaust, or social justice have been quietly pulled, sometimes to avoid debates over “woke” content.
• Digital Resources: Over 500,000 digital books were removed from the Internet Archive in 2020 due to a publishers’ lawsuit, and some libraries trimmed e-book collections to save costs.

In 2023 alone, PEN America documented 3,362 book bans across U.S. schools, affecting 1,557 unique titles. Many removals happened quietly, with schools like Boyle County in Kentucky pulling over 100 books without public review.

Why Does This Happen?

Quiet removals often stem from fear—fear of legal action, parental complaints, or political backlash. New state laws, like Florida’s HB 1069 or Tennessee’s 2022 library law, pressure librarians to remove materials deemed “inappropriate.” During 2020, budget constraints and remote operations made it easier to make changes without scrutiny. But when books like those on the Schumann Resonance disappear, are they just low-demand casualties, or is something else at play?

What Can You Do?

If you’re wondering what’s happening in your library, here are steps to uncover the truth:

1. Check Your Library’s Catalog: Look for missing or unavailable titles. Ask librarians why a book isn’t accessible.
2. File a FOIA Request: For public libraries or schools, request deaccession records from 2020–2021 to see what was removed.
3. Contact Advocacy Groups: Reach out to the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (oif@ala.org) or PEN America for data on local removals.
4. Search Social Media: Platforms like X often have community reports about library changes. Search for your library’s name with terms like “book removal.”
5. Engage Your Community: Attend library board meetings or start discussions to demand transparency.

Let’s Start Asking Questions

Libraries are pillars of free access to knowledge, but when books vanish without explanation, trust erodes. Whether it’s a digital book on the Schumann Resonance or a novel on a hot-button issue, we deserve to know what’s happening in our libraries. Were materials quietly removed during the 2020 closures? Are niche topics being sidelined? Share your experiences in the comments, check your local library, and let’s spark a conversation about transparency in our public spaces.

Have you noticed missing books in your library? Share your story below or contact your library to ask why!