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| https://thelibrariansfilm.com/ |
As Instagram probably does for all of us, when I was doom scrolling on night a few weeks ago, a suggested reels popped up on my phone. Usually, I just scroll right past, but within seconds, I was drawn into the video. It begins with body cam footage of two people in a library, and immediately, there was tension, sucking me in. What was the video, you might ask?
It was the trailer to The Librarians directed by Kim A. Snyder.
Post Book Ban Week and researching the multitude of advocacy groups and organizations, this film felt like a sign to me and I had to go see it. I am a firm believer that in order to overcome the fear of anything, you must see it, understand it and face it head on so I was looking forward to the film to help me better grasp where this book banning business began.
Playing at the Film Forum, here in NYC, I swiftly booked my ticket.
Lucky, I brought my notebook because as soon as the screen lit up, there was so much that I wanted to research further. So, notebook in hand, I sat in the dark, scribbled, and watched, what I would call, a love letter to those unsung heroes on the forefront of the book challenges and a call to action to those who value the freedom to read.
"Librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy and our First Amendment Rights. As they well know, controlling the flow of ideas means control over communities.
In Texas, the Krause List targets 850 books focused on race and LGBTQia+ stories – triggering sweeping book bans across the U.S. at an unprecedented rate. As tensions escalate, librarians connect the dots from heated school and library board meetings nationwide to lay bare the underpinnings of extremism fueling the censorship efforts. Despite facing harassment, threats, and laws aimed at criminalizing their work – the librarians’ rallying cry for freedom to read is a chilling cautionary tale."
Screening worldwide, the film follows the librarians who have been on the forefront of the book bans, who have been targeted for their belief that everyone has the right to have their stories on the library shelves; a right to exercise their First Amendment Rights. I was shocked by what I was witnessing, seeing these ordinary people under fire for their commitment to the freedom to read. Following the experience of many librarians and community advocates like Martha Hickson, Amanda Jones, Julie Miller and Reverend Jeffrey Dove, the Librarians documents the resilience, the trials and triumphs of these, in my opinions, champions and heroes. To see everything in context, from the beginning of this movement, with interviews from librarian, students, and the community was incredibly eye opening.
Everyone, all of us in the theater, were scoffing, shaking our heads, and huffing in disbelief at the ridiculousness what we were seeing and hearing. I was stunned by the hypocrisy of these challengers and how we've seen this type of movement in the past; circa 1984. I never thought it would happen here, but as Reverend Jeffrey Dove stated about the opposing groups, they have a "wicked genius" in how they use their intelligent, time and effort to destroy and challenge these books, targeting marginalized stories and voices.
The film was incredible, and only fortified my commitment to telling my own stories. To be a librarian is a gift to our community and to our youth, and we must protect and support them. Books have the ability to save lives and this film stoked the fire within me to fight back against this darkness.
Here is a link to the find where you can screen the documentary near you and be sure to follow The Librarians on Instagram.
With tears in my eyes, I left the theater with mixed emotions but the more importantly, hope and fight. To watch ordinary people stand up against the book bans, refusing to let their voices be silenced was powerful and made me wonder, where can I be of service. -
- Banned and Challenged Books Bookshop
- A expansive list of banned books that you can purchase to help support creators
- SCBWI Banned Book Video Playlists
- Check out SCBWI's Banned Book Playlist, full of panel discussions with industry professional, censorship activists and more!
- Consider joining organizations that are on the front line of the fight!
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