The cast and crew of “The Librarians” attend the film’s 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere at The Ray Theatre. (Photo by Robin Marshall/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)
By Jessica Herndon
Who could have imagined librarians — typically viewed as guardians of quietude — emerging as the unexpected defenders of democracy? That’s the central revelation of The Librarians, a searing new documentary from filmmaker Kim A. Snyder, debuting in the Premieres section at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Against an unprecedented wave of book bans in states like Texas and Florida, the film positions these unassuming professionals as warriors for intellectual freedom, battling threats, harassment, and laws designed to silence them.
Snyder’s film delves into the heart of the culture war waged on school libraries. Book bans — targeting works by and about people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, and topics like sex education — have swept across the country, fueled by political agendas. Snyder takes viewers inside problematic school board meetings where fiery debates reveal the divide over which stories children should be allowed to read. At the center of it all are the librarians, adhering to their ethical code to uphold representation, diversity, and access to knowledge.
“The thing I love about Sundance is the community, and I think now more than ever it’s so utterly important and meaningful,” says Snyder at the post-premiere Q&A before wrapping her arms around her cast and crew as they wipe tears from their eyes following the emotional journey we witnessed onscreen. For many involved in making the film, particularly the libraries featured, this is the first time they have seen the finished movie.
Opening with the haunting voice-over of a librarian admitting, “I never imagined what’s happening right now could actually happen,” the film quickly immerses viewers in the chaos. One of the focal points is a 2021 directive in Texas, where then–State Representative Matt Krause issued a list of 850 books he deemed inappropriate for school libraries. The targeted works included All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson, Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh, and The Case of Roe v. Wade by Leonard A. Stevens. The common thread? Books that affirm marginalized identities or delve into America’s history with race and sex.
Meanwhile, Florida’s HB 1467, passed in 2023, took the offensive further, mandating the removal of books accused of containing “pornographic” or “race-based” teachings, with violations punishable as felonies. Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, a seminal work on sexual abuse and systemic racism, became a hot point, with parent groups like Moms for Liberty accusing librarians of distributing “pornography” to children.
Snyder weaves in the voices of students from Granbury, Texas — a town where conservative views dominate. These students, often targeted for their progressive beliefs, describe the power of seeing themselves in the books under fire. For them, these stories are lifelines, a perspective that underscores the librarians’ fight: ensuring the next generation has access to stories that educate, empower, and provide solace. “The students are why we do it, and to have them by our side while we’re doing it is incredible,” says librarian Martha Hickson.
“I was raised in a library,” says one of the film’s executive producers, Sarah Jessica Parker, who looked glamorous and edgy in a ballooning gray dress and bright purple suede boots, when asked why she wanted to be involved with the project. “With eight kids, we relied on our local public library. It was cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and had the most wonderful people as shepherds. They were in council with my parents. They weren’t leading me astray. They were answering my curiosity. I can’t imagine my life without books, and I can’t imagine our country without the opportunity to know the world, to be better people, to learn about people different than ourselves.” As Parker receives nods from the audience, she continues. “It is through these people’s shepherding that our kids — and grown-ups, frankly — have the opportunity to be elsewhere. It was a blessing when [producer Jana Edelbaum] asked if we [Pretty Matches Productions] wanted to be a part of [this film].”
Through intimate portrayals in The Librarians, Snyder captures the courage of the women who refuse to yield to censorship. Politicians, the film argues, have turned libraries into battlegrounds, aiming to control information. However, librarians remain firm in believing they should stand up for the next generations. As one librarian stated, eliciting cheers from the crowd in the theater: “This is and never was about books. It’s about knowledge … This film is telling our story so people can see us and will know what we’re doing and our part to fight for democracy.”
