The Librarians

Librarians are frequently first responders in the fight for democracy and our First Amendment Rights. Offering a rattling look at coordinated efforts to ban books, The Librarians introduces viewers to the everyday and increasingly vital heroes pushing back: people sounding the alarm to both legislative and grassroots attempts to pull books from school and public libraries.
Filmed in Texas, the documentary shows how the Krause List targeted 850 books focused on race and LGBTQIA+ stories, triggering sweeping book bans across the U.S. at an unprecedented rate. As tensions escalated, librarians connected the dots from heated school and library board meetings nationwide to lay bare the underpinnings of White Christian Nationalism 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.
Join us for a screening and discussion featuring Katherine Szuplat, Associate Director of the Newbury Town Library, and Florentina Gutierrez, Head of Adult Services at the Newburyport Public Library, to discuss how librarians are working locally to protect our right to read.

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