Banned Index

Access Restrictions

Access restrictions track policy decisions that affect book access without targeting specific titles. These include program defunding, library budget cuts, and service eliminations — as well as protective policies that expand or defend access. Distinct from content-based bans.

For title-specific removals and challenges, see documented bans.

Restrictive actions

7 actions

Defunding, budget cuts, closures, and service eliminations.

Library budget cutImplemented

Grossmont Union High School District, CA

Grossmont Union HSD library budget cuts amid LGBTQ discrimination lawsuits

GUHSD in CA faces multiple lawsuits alleging anti-LGBTQ agenda, accompanied by library budget cuts reducing collections and services.

Affected population:
GUHSD students
Effective:
Jul 1, 2025

Source

Program defundingImplemented

Indiana

Indiana eliminates $4M state allocation for Imagination Library

Indiana proposed eliminating $4M state allocation in 2025. Shifted to private fundraising led by governor's wife; fundraising goals not met; no state match guaranteed for 2025-2026.

Amount:
$4,000,000
Affected population:
Indiana children birth-age 5 participating in Imagination Library
Effective:
Jul 1, 2025

Source · Archived copy

Program defundingImplemented

Washington

Washington eliminates state Imagination Library contribution

Washington eliminated state contribution entirely in latest budget, reversing last-minute restoration from previous year.

Affected population:
Washington children participating in Imagination Library
Effective:
Jul 1, 2025

Source · Archived copy

Librarian eliminationImplemented

Grossmont Union High School District, CA

GUHSD eliminates 9 teacher-librarian positions

In March 2025, Grossmont Union High School District's board voted to eliminate all 9 teacher-librarian positions (part of a broader 49-teacher layoff). Licensed teacher-librarians were replaced by library technicians who lack teaching credentials. Subsequent (October 2025) reporting documented reduced library hours, limited study-space access, and loss of research-assistance capacity. The 9 eliminated librarians filed an April 2026 lawsuit alleging the layoffs were retaliation for providing LGBTQ+ resources and creating welcoming environments for LGBTQ+ students (see related lawsuits record).

Amount:
9 librarians
Affected population:
GUHSD students + 9 former teacher-librarians
Effective:
Mar 1, 2025

Source · Archived copy

Collection freezeImplemented

Grossmont Union High School District, CA

GUHSD library-fund freeze + purchasing micromanagement

Per private board texts surfaced in Public Records Act response (DocumentCloud 25975404), board majority directed staff to 'freeze all library funds and micromanage all library purchases' with the stated goal of 'making a process, which would be impossible for woke books to be adopted.' This constrains new library acquisitions rather than removing existing titles. No specific books have been publicly documented as banned/removed under this directive.

Affected population:
GUHSD library collections + students
Effective:
Jan 1, 2025

Source · Archived copy

Program defundingReversed

Kentucky

Kentucky proposed Imagination Library match reduction (reversed)

Proposed reducing state match dollar-for-dollar → one-third match. Would have eliminated 80% of county programs. Full funding restored after advocacy.

Affected population:
138,000 Kentucky children
Proposed:
Jan 1, 2025
Reversed:
Apr 1, 2025

Source · Archived copy

Program defundingProposed

California

California Imagination Library funding attempts bungled

California state funding attempts characterized as 'bungled' — failure to allocate/distribute rather than deliberate cut.

Source · Archived copy

Protective policies

1 policy

Policies that expand or defend public access to books.

1 protective policy tracked; most access changes are restrictive.

Protective policyImplemented

Central York School District, PA

Central York passes policy prohibiting library book bans

June 2023 policy: age-based categories, parents can restrict only THEIR OWN child's access, returned 2 removed books, PROHIBITED banning library books entirely. First district in York County to do this.

Affected population:
Central York students and families
Effective:
Jun 20, 2023

Source · Archived copy

Have a tip about a library closure, defunding decision, or protective policy? Submit it here.