The Librarians

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The Librarians

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1h 34m

Documentary

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94%

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32 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)

Oct 7

Depressing and alarming stuff.

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Nell Minow

RogerEbert.com

Oct 3

3.5/4

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

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Sheri Linden

New York Times

Oct 2

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.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Dec 8

The ideological/political purpose of these attacks, which increasingly involve arrest and death threats, is clear. Though as ever, the gullibility of activists who think they’re “saving the children” from largely imaginary perils amazes, and infuriates.

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Dorothy Woodend

The Tyee (British Columbia)

Nov 17

The film shows it’s not really about the books; it is about power.

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Jaylan Salah

Geek Vibes Nation

Nov 16

7.5/10

The documentary highlights the power of words and what they entail. The written word and the way it illuminates minds and forges paths toward a more inclusive, empathetic future.

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Victor L

@LifeUhFindsAWay Dec 12

'The Librarians' is a powerful, urgent documentary that transforms a fight for intellectual freedom into a deeply human and inspiring story. With clarity, compassion, and razor-sharp storytelling, the film spotlights the courage of librarians standing on the front lines of democracy and free expression. It is both sobering and uplifting—grounded in real stakes, yet fueled by hope and moral conviction. *The Librarians* is essential viewing that reminds us why access to knowledge is worth defending.

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Alec B

@AlecMichaelB Oct 30

Powerful in no small way, The Librarians skillfully shows a behind-the-scenes look at the root of Book Banning Efforts that are spreading like a virus across the nation. A small but mighty group of librarians have faced defamation, harassment, and even the loss of their jobs to fight the good fight against far-right censorship efforts. The documentary makes one notion extremely clear: these organized efforts by dangerous groups like Moms for Liberty are targeting marginalized people and the freedom to read through their baseless challenges. Librarians emerge as defenders of the first amendment and democracy to fight for our youth and our collective access to information.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Oct 4

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

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Kim A. Snyder

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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