With Special Screening and Expert Panel
Leading Voices to Examine the Growing Impact of Censorship on Libraries Nationwide
The New York State Library, State Museum, and Office of Educational Television and Public Broadcasting are pleased to announce a distinguished panel of experts for a timely discussion on the impact of book bans and censorship. The panel will follow a special screening of “The Librarians” on Saturday, April 25, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the New York State Museum’s Huxley Theater. The documentary chronicles a courageous national network of librarians confronting the accelerating wave of book restrictions reshaping library collections—and access to knowledge—across the country.
Moderated by James Paleologopoulos, Producer for WAMC/Northeast Public Radio’s On the Road, the discussion will feature the following panelists:
Lauren Moore is the New York State Librarian. In this role, she leads the Regent Joseph E. Bowman Research Library, one of the oldest and largest research libraries in the country, along with the NYS Talking Book and Braille Library and the Division of Library Development. The New York State Library provides vital support and oversight to a network of over 7,000 libraries throughout the state.
Brian Jones is Senior Director of Reading and Engagement at the New York Public Library. A longtime educator, he served as the inaugural director of NYPL’s Center for Educators & Schools, and as associate director of education at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. He writes about Black education history and politics and is the author of two books, The Tuskegee Student Uprising: A History and Black History Is for Everyone.
Emily Drabinski is Associate Professor and Chair of the Queens College School of Information Studies at the City University of New York. Her latest book is the co-authored Organize Your Library! Building the Collective Power of Library Users (ALA Editions). Drabinski served as 2023-24 President of the American Library Association during a time of unprecedented, organized censorship activity. She is the recipient of multiple awards including the Publishing Triangle’s Torchbearer Award for her work in support of queer voices.
Reanna Esmail is the Lead Librarian for Instruction at Cornell University and 2024-2025 Association for Research Libraries Leadership and Career Development Fellow and Minnesota Institute alum. She is a columnist for American Libraries magazine, member of the Library Freedom Project, steering committee member for Librarians and Archivists with Palestine, and a member of New York State Library’s Regents Advisory Council. Reanna previously served as a co-primary investigator on an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funded grant project to create open educational resources for algorithmic literacy.
Amanda Hoffman has been working in libraries since the end of 2022. She started at Rockwell Falls Public Library as a library clerk and eventually became the library assistant. There, she helped lead the library through public reaction to a scheduled Drag Queen Story Hour. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Library and Information Science from Syracuse University’s iSchool. In the future, she would like to be a programming librarian for children and/or teens in public libraries.
New York State Librarian Lauren Moore said, “Libraries are at the heart of a growing national conversation about access to information and the freedom to read. I’m proud to bring together a group of leaders who are not only witnessing these challenges firsthand, but actively working to address them. The New York State Library is committed to supporting local libraries and providing necessary guidance and support. This discussion will highlight the critical role libraries play in ensuring people everywhere can explore ideas, access knowledge, and engage with diverse perspectives.”
From Oscar-nominated Director and Producer Kim A. Snyder (“Death By Numbers,” “Newtown,” “Us Kids”) and Executive Producer Sarah Jessica Parker, “The Librarians” takes viewers across the country, where local libraries have become unexpected battlegrounds in a national struggle over intellectual freedom, parental control, and democracy itself. Sparked by the controversial “Krause List,” which targets 850 books centered on race and LGBTQIA+ stories, the film takes a deep investigative dive into the escalating movement against book banning. The film captures the courage and resilience of the everyday heroes, librarians, as well as concerned parents and students flanking them, who have become first responders in the fight for the freedom to read, standing defiantly against censorship at all costs.
Guests are invited to try zine-making with help from the Albany Zine Club and take home free event posters and bags from Circus, along with books from The RED Bookshelf.
This event is presented with collaboration by ITVS, INDEPENDENT LENS, and the New York State Library. The evening will begin with the tabling activities, followed by a screening of the film in the Huxley Theater and the panel discussion. Panelists will discuss the challenges libraries face today, their personal experiences in the battle against censorship, and their suggestions for what libraries and their supporters can do in the continuing struggle for intellectual freedom.
About the New York State Library
The New York State Library, established in 1818, is the largest state library system in the nation and one of the largest research libraries in North America. It oversees a vast network of more than 7,000 libraries statewide. Collections are made available onsite and through a robust interlibrary loan program. The Library’s mission is advanced through several key divisions, including the Research Library, which houses a collection of over 20 million items, the Talking Book and Braille Library, and the Division of Library Development. The Library preserves and maintains invaluable historical collections and works, and serves as a Regional Depository for federal publications. Additionally, the State Library is the official repository of New York State government publications, ensuring their enduring preservation and accessibility for future generations.
For more information, please visit the New York State Library website and subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
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