What's a book ban?

PEN America defines a “book ban” as any challenge to a book that causes its removal, even temporarily. It also includes books that are still available with “restricted” access. A study last fall found that 74% of the titles on PEN America’s banned books list were still on the shelves in school libraries.

People fighting to get certain books removed from schools hate the term “book ban.” Is “book ban” more political hyperbole or a censorship alarm bell?

NPR’s Elizabeth Blair reports.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.