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 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.
“From its superb opening-credits sequence paying tribute to card catalogs of yore to its sharp selection of vintage clips and intimate reportage, THE LIBRARIANS is as well-crafted as it is profoundly alarming.” —Sheri Linden, NYT Critic’s Pick, New York Times “If you’ve wondered how exactly we got here, THE LIBRARIANS has your answer…. This documentary lays the facts at our feet and gives us a glimpse of the brave people trying to keep books in libraries and keep young minds open.” —Dan Mecca, Film Stage
