Media Mingle: "The Librarians"

Film Screening & Discussion around current developments in the library and information sector

We are screening the U.S. documentary film that examines the restriction of the public’s right to information in public libraries followed by an expert talk.

After the movie, James Turk, Director of the Centre for Free Expression in Toronto and former Professor of Sociology at the UofT, will speak on the situation in Canada. Johannes Neuer, Director of the German National Library in Leipzig, will join via video conference to speak on the German/European perspective of things.

Where do we really stand in our society? And is censorship really something that doesn't affect us?

About the movie:

Librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy. 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 extremism 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.

Text copied and slightly altered from: About the Film - The Librarians Film | Official Site

Photo Credit © The Librarians, KA Snyder Productions