A challenge may result in access being retained, restricted, or revoked at a school or public library.
Data compiled by: American Library Association -- Office for Intellectual Freedom
Twelve school districts in Missouri banned 315 books between July and December 2022, with Wentzville School District banning 220 of those. The book removals were a result of Missouri’s SB 775, passed in 2022. A provision in that law specifically bans any depiction or description of sexually explicit material, which includes sexual intercourse, genitalia, or “sadomasochistic abuse.” It also makes it a misdemeanor for school officials (educators, librarians, student teachers, coaches) or any visitor to a school, to distribute material to students deemed “harmful to minors.”
Pendharker, Eesha. "Nearly 300 Books Removed From Schools Under Missouri’s ‘Sexually Explicit Materials’ Law." Education Week, 18 Nov. 2022, https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/nearly-300-books-removed-from-schools-under-missouris-sexually-explicit-materials-law/2022/11.
Additional news stories on book banning in Missouri:
Missouri senators seek to bar kids from accessing pornographic materials from libraries, subjecting library board members to misdemeanor charges -- Missouri Independent, March 4, 2025
St. Charles County libraries enact new rules for book challenges -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 21, 2025
Parents Urge St. Charles County Libraries to Ban Two Books -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 20, 2023
St. Charles County residents raise concerns about 'explicit' library book -- KSDK, September 19, 2023
Books Banned Most in Missouri, Kansas Top National List -- KCTV, August 28, 2023
Missouri No. 1 for School Censorship Measures, Report Says -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 23, 2023
Missouri School Board's Decision to Retain Maus is a Positive Move But Removing Six Other Books is Unfortunate, Says PEN America -- PEN America, June 21, 2023 | Springfield Nixa School District
Art Spiegelman on Banning Maus -- PEN America, June 2023 | Spiegelman reflects on fascism as third Missouri school district debates banning his Holocaust memoir
State Laws Are Behind Many Book Bans, Even Indirectly, Report Finds – Education Week, May 19, 2023 | Wentzville School District
Missouri Book Bans in Response to SB 775 -- PEN America, as of November 15, 2022 | List of titles
Suburban School Districts in St. Louis Area More Likely to Ban Books under New Law – St. Louis Post-Dispatch (subscription required), September 25, 2022 | Use the interactive map to find out how many books were banned in each district.
Schools Removing Books -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch via ProQuest (requires SCC login), August 30, 2022 | St. Louis metro area school districts: Francis Howell, Wentzville, Parkway, Rockwood, and Mehlville
Parents, School Librarians Concerned about Repercussions as Missouri’s Book Law Takes Effect -- KMOV (video), August 29, 2022
Find additional articles on banned books in Missouri from EBSCOhost (requires SCC login).