Attempted book bans and restrictions at schools and public libraries continue to surge, according to a report from the American Library Association. Rick Bowmer/AP hide caption

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Rick Bowmer/AP

Attempted book bans and restrictions at schools and public libraries continue to surge, according to a report from the American Library Association.

Rick Bowmer/AP

As the battle over book bans in schools and libraries continues to play out in various states across the U.S., the toll it's taking on librarians is coming at a great cost — personally and financially.

Many librarians are speaking up about fearing for their jobs and safety.

Yet some conservative activists see the current fight playing out as necessary to protect children.

NPR's Tovia Smith traveled to Louisiana where tensions have been flaring up — pitting librarians against book ban advocates in the local community.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

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This episode was produced by Brianna Scott. It was edited by Catherine Laidlaw and Adam Raney. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

The Battle Over Book Bans Takes a Toll on Librarians and Comes at a Financial cost