The Librarians

Presented with Friends of the Norfolk Public Library

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 LGBTQ stories -- triggering sweeping book bans across the U.S. at an unprecedented rate. The documentary follows librarians including Carolyn Foote and Suzette Baker, in Texas, Florida, and other states, as they unite to combat book banning in the United States. As tensions escalate, librarians connect 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. The film had its world premier at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Sarah Jessica Parker served as executive producer, (1h 34m)