Kicking off Banned Books Week in San Luis Obispo County, the SLO Film Center and the SLO County Library Foundation present a screening of The Librarians (2025) on Sunday, October 4 at 4:15 p.m. at the Palm Theatre in downtown SLO.
The 92-minute documentary directed by Kim A. Snyder exposes the coordinated, well-funded political campaigns driving book bans across the United States.
The Emmy-winning film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, depicts librarians under siege joining forces to fight for intellectual freedom on the front lines of democracy.
The clash is sparked by an unprecedented wave of book banning in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey and beyond.
“It is an excellent film,” according to Library Foundation president Juliane McAdam. “We would love to see a full theatre.”
Film critic Nell Minow writes that the movie is about “hysterical, unfounded, personal, and sometimes violent attacks on librarians. It is also about their unwavering commitment to making facts, literature, and inspiration available to anyone.”
SLO County Public Libraries will be parking its Branch Out mobile van in front of the Palm Theatre for 45 minutes before the screening.