If the pen is mightier than the sword, it makes sense that those who are afraid of ideas, questions and critical thinking have chosen libraries as their battleground.

According to a report by Axios, the American Library Association says that fight is intensifying across the country.

In Ohio, there was an increase in the number of book titles challenged between 2022 and 2023. Last year, there were 40 formal complaints filed in the Ohio, challenging a total of 235 books, based on ALA data. By contrast, in West Virginia — where we know there has been much said about the danger of books — only one formal ban attempt was made, related to three titles.

Axios says the number of targeted books in U.S. schools and libraries rose 65% between 2022 and 2023. That is frightening.

Among the worst offenders are Florida (33 attempts for 2,672 titles), Kentucky (11 attempts for 448 titles), Tennessee (21 attempts for 350 titles), Texas (49 attempts for 1,470 titles), Virginia (25 attempts for 387 titles) and Wisconsin (27 attempts for 448 titles).

According to the ALA, some of the most frequently targeted books are those dealing with themes of social justice, discrimination and inequality.

It is astounding how transparent some groups are in their attempts to prevent exposure to ideas that might improve our understanding of one another. It’s horrifying how many would rather let hate, ignorance and fear determine our fate.

Tactics to strengthen that ignorance’s grip on all of us are being employed here and across the country, at increasing rates. If schools and libraries are the battleground that has been chosen, it is up to the rest of us to fight back.