PBS’s ‘Independent Lens’ to Premiere ‘The Librarians’ Amid Growing Concerns Over Book Banning
PBS to Premiere ‘The Librarians’ Amid Growing Book Ban Controversy
PBS will debut the documentary The Librarians on Monday, February 9, following a successful theatrical and festival run, which garnered numerous awards across the country. The film, executive produced by Sarah Jessica Parker, will feature on Independent Lens, a well-established public television series produced by ITVS.
The documentary investigates the coordinated efforts by conservative organizations, including Moms for Liberty, to restrict access to a wide range of books in public schools and libraries. It also highlights the backlash librarians face when defending children’s rights to access materials, particularly those with anti-racist or LGBTQ themes. Some right-wing figures have alleged that librarians are "grooming" children through these resources.
Amanda Jones, a librarian featured in the film, shared her perspective with the New York Times in 2024, stating, “What we’re seeing now is full-scale attacks on people’s characters if they stand up for books. The hate level and the vitriol is unreal to me.”
Jones expressed the personal threats she has faced due to her advocacy, stating, “I’ve received death threats for the crime of giving a speech at the public library about how libraries are for everyone. And it’s not just an attack on librarians, but it’s an attack on the books. But they’re also trying to devalue and defund libraries as a whole across the board.”
The documentary’s relevance is underscored by the ongoing nationwide trends in book banning. Activist Calzada noted how these bans started in Texas and have since spread to states like Louisiana, Florida, and Utah. In Utah, for instance, students are reportedly prohibited from bringing their personally-owned books to school if those titles are banned.
The upcoming PBS release of The Librarians coincides with recent political shifts against book banning efforts. In a notable election, Democrat Taylor Rehmet triumphed over Trump-backed Republican Leigh Wambsganss in a Texas state senate special election. Wambsganss had previously led a campaign to take control of local school boards to impose book bans.
In preparation for the election, screenings of The Librarians were held in the north-central Texas area. The filmmakers also presented the documentary last year in Houston prior to the elections for the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District Board of Trustees, where several moderate candidates ousted incumbent conservatives.
The Texas Freedom Network commented on the impact of these elections, highlighting how extremist agendas had divided communities and undermined educational goals. They expressed concern over the banning of books and the imposition of discriminatory policies targeting LGBTQ+ students.
The issue of book banning remains contentious, as reflected in a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which chose not to hear an appeal regarding a Texas case that allowed local officials to remove books deemed objectionable from public libraries. The lawsuit arose from a 2022 complaint by residents in Llano County concerning the removal of various books related to sex, race, and gender.
The Librarians has received accolades from various film festivals, including the Hamptons International Film Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival, and has also been nominated for Best Political Documentary at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards.
Parker commented on the underlying fears driving the surge in book bans, suggesting that they stem from concerns over children encountering information that challenges their families’ ideologies. “I sometimes feel as if it’s fear of children having information that might be counter to a home’s ideology, religion, political point of view,” she remarked. “The safety and well-being of these librarians who are pursuing education and curiosity is truly tragic.”
The Librarians serves as a critical examination of the current landscape of book access and censorship in America, showcasing the resilience of those who advocate for the freedom to read.
‘The Librarians’ filmmaking team and documentary participants at Deadline’s Sundance Film Festival Portrait Studio on January 24, 2025 in Park City, Utah.
Michael Buckner for Deadline
Independent Lens/Cuomo-Cole Productions
