Library Policies and Patron Use Studies

This latest research describes the status of library-related policymaking and patrons’ library usage across the U.S. The summary compiles an eye-opening stack of bills that have been passed, enacted, vetoed, or left to wither on the vine. The document also details how coalitions are forming in support of intellectual freedom nationwide.

A separate report indicates that library visits and print circulation have declined more than 50% since 2011, while digital circulation has risen from 8% to 45% in the past decade. Though digital is up, the report also attests that patron demand for “more nonfiction and more backlist” print titles is going unmet. The report observed “no diminution in people’s need for reading” in the U.S., with 80–85% of respondents borrowing print and digital material. The data indicated that “the overwhelming use of libraries is for reading” and “contrary to general belief, there is a relatively small number of users of programs and services,” a topic worthy of closer investigation in case program participation or community service is underreported.

EveryLibrary. (2025). Codifying Censorship or Reclaiming Rights? The State-by-State 2025 Legislative Landscape for Libraries. Author. https://www.everylibrary.org/state_by_state_2025_legislative_landscape_report

Coates, T. (2025). Freckle Project. Tim Coates Books. https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org/freckle_project_surveys_reports

Book Banning Impacts Study

 Abstract: Banning of books has become increasingly prevalent and politically polarizing in the United States. While the primary goal of these bans is to restrict access to books, conversations about the bans have garnered attention on a wider scale. This increased attention to bans can either have a chilling effect or can influence consumers to read the banned books. In this study, we use a novel, large-scale dataset of US library book circulations and evaluate the impact of book bans on the consumption of banned books. Using a staggered difference-in-differences design, we find that the circulations of banned books increased by 12% on average compared to comparable non-banned titles after the ban. We also find that banning a book in a state leads to increased circulation in states without bans. We show that the increase in consumption is driven by books from lesser-known authors suggesting that new and unknown authors stand to gain from the increasing consumer support. Additionally, our results demonstrate that books with higher visibility on social media following the ban see an increase in consumption, suggesting a link between social media and political consumerism. We also find that book bans have a tangible political impact through campaign donations - Republican Party candidates attract significantly more campaign donations than Democratic candidates, following the ban events but only in Republican-leaning states.

Ananthakrishnan, Uttara M and Basavaraj, Naveen and Karmegam, Sabari Rajan and Sen, Ananya and Smith, Michael D., Book Bans in American Libraries: Impact of Politics on Inclusive Content Consumption (June 23, 2023). Donald G. Costello College of Business at George Mason University Research Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4489684 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4489684