The Librarians and the Freedom to Read

It is a wonderful thing when libraries across the region of Waterloo have an opportunity to collaborate. Last month, Waterloo Public Library was fortunate to partner with Kitchener Public Library, Cambridge Public Library, the Region of Waterloo  Library and ella (Early Learning and Literacy Alliance) Waterloo Region to offer a special screening of the important documentary, The Librarians. The documentary features a group of American librarians on the front lines of a nationwide surge in book bans targeting race and LGBTQIA+ topics, sparked by efforts like Texas’s Krause List. As censorship spreads, they face mounting pressure, threats, and political opposition while connecting local battles to a broader coordinated movement. Their fight to defend the freedom to read becomes a powerful warning about the state of intellectual freedom and democracy.

After the screening concluded, we were honoured to host one of the members of The Librarians cast: real-life librarian and subsequent superhero, Martha Hickson. The interview brought to light the very real difficulties Martha faced in her role in a Texas school, defending the rights of young people to read books by 2SLGBTQ+ authors, in addition to having access to books about Black History.

The persistent theme throughout the film and in the interview with Martha was that of finding comfort in knowing that even when we feel like there is little we can do in the face of well-organized, politically motivated book challenges that the movie featured, there is much that we can do every day.

As Canadians, the film felt especially resonant in the long shadow of Alberta’s recently passed (and contentiously so) Bill 28, which grants new provincial government powers to control library collections, programming, budget allocations, and also grants the government the right to search customer records with neither cause or justification to find out what customers are borrowing. It represents the greatest legislative threat to public libraries, the freedom to read, and library customer rights to privacy that at least two generations have seen. The bill may also, according to the Alberta Coalition of Libraries, force some libraries to close.

Against this backdrop, hearing from Martha was both sobering and galvanizing. By sharing her experience, she reminded us not only of the scale of these challenges, but also of the power communities still hold to respond. In the face of such tangible threats to fundamental rights, her words helped ground the essential question the film leaves us with: what now?

How You Can Work to Protect the Freedom to Read

In our discussion, Martha shared this resource from Unite Against Book Bans, including a toolkit to lend inspiration and direct actions.

Here are some other things you can do and learn from, to help protect our freedom to read in Canada:

• Stay up to date with what’s happening to the freedom to read and freedom of expression by visiting The Centre for Free Expression website and listening to their podcast.
• Find out how to spot mis-, dis- and mal-information by visiting Media Smarts: Canada’s Centre for Digital Media Literacy or reading our blog.
• Discover reading suggestions and learn about banned and challenge books on our Freedom to Read Week blog.

In addition to the resources outlined above, staying politically engaged is also crucial in protecting the fundamental right to read. It is important to read about and ask candidates in all elections about their views on freedom of expression and freedom to read.

At WPL, we offer programming about civic engagement for all ages (see more details about an upcoming program for kids below).

Together, the film, Martha’s story, and our shared reflections remind us that protecting the freedom to read is not a distant issue, but an ongoing responsibility—one that begins with each of us.

Watch The Librarians on Kanopy for free with your library card.