The Librarians

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The Librarians

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1h 34m

Documentary

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93%

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27 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

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 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.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Depressing and alarming stuff.

Oct 7, 2025

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Nell Minow

RogerEbert.com

This movie reminds us there is just one way to separate truth from propaganda: learning.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 3, 2025

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Sheri Linden

New York Times

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.

Oct 2, 2025

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Matt Mahler

PopMatters

The Librarians is a vital David and Goliath documentary of the fight against book banning, a harbinger of fascism, in America.

Oct 6, 2025

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Ian Hrabe

MovieJawn

The Librarians does a good enough job showing that book bans are at the forefront of a slippery slope toward authoritarianism for me to recommend it.

Oct 6, 2025

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Christopher Campbell

Nonfics (Substack)

The Librarians isn’t so much a film about the issue as it is a spotlight on the titular professionals risking their jobs to fight against it. I wish, then, that it were more memorable as a character-driven piece.

Oct 3, 2025

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Stephen C

Real footage in 1 hour and 34 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/04/25

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Kim A. Snyder

Director

Carolyn Foote

Self

Laney Hawes

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Jeffrey Dove

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Courtney Gore

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Nancy Jo Lambert

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Synopsis

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 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.

Director: Kim A. Snyder
Producer: Kim A. Snyder, Janique L. Robillard, Maria Cuomo Cole, Jana Edelbaum
Screenwriter: Leo Muñoz, Claudio X. González, Jack Youngelson
Distributor: Independent Lens
Production Co: Good Gravy Films, Two Chairs Productions, Artemis Rising Productions, Pretty Matches Productions, World of HA Productions, The Brandt Jackson Foundation, iDeal Partners Film Fund, ITVS International, Independent Television Service, Cuomo Cole Productions, KA Snyder Productions, The Harnisch Foundation, Independent Lens
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 34m