The New Censorship of Books

The current book bans in the U.S.—including bans in schools and crackdowns on libraries and librarians—are also a concern here in Germany. Libraries and library associations, in particular, are organizing exhibitions, event series, and lectures.

The Department of German Studies at the University of Kassel is also actively engaged in research, teaching, and outreach on this topic:

• On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, a panel discussion will take place in Nuremberg: “When Books Disappear—What Does That Mean for Our Society? A Panel Discussion with Prof. Martin Puchner (Harvard University) and Prof. Dr. Nikola Roßbach (University of Kassel).”For more information, visit the City of Nuremberg’s website.

• On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the traveling exhibition“Free Media – Free People”by the Hesse Regional Association of the German Library Association will open in Fulda with a lecture by Nikola Roßbach titled“Book Bans and Censorship.” Further information is available on the Fulda University of Applied Sciences website.

• The current German studies seminar“Banned Books—Censorship: Theory and Research”is conducting a qualitative and quantitative analysis of U.S. book bans from 2024–25 (over 6,000, according to PEN America). This analysis will subsequently be published on the “Kasseler Liste.” Visit the “Kasseler Liste” website.