Join PBS Books' and Librarian Heather-Marie Montilla, for a timely and thoughtful conversation with Daniel Montgomery, Executive Director of the American Library Association (ALA), as they explore the enduring importance of libraries and librarians in shaping American society, culture, and civic life.
Together, they will discuss the powerful new film, The Librarians, airing on PBS. The film examines how librarians across the United States are increasingly finding themselves on the frontlines of public conversations about access to information, education, and community values. Drawing on historical context and current events, the documentary highlights how librarians navigate challenges surrounding library collections while continuing their mission to serve their communities.
Montilla and Montgomery will also reflect on the previously released documentary Free for All: The Public Library, which traces the inspiring history of the public library movement. From the pioneering women who helped establish the "Free Library Movement" to today's librarians working to keep libraries open, welcoming, and accessible to all, the film celebrates the individuals who helped build one of America's most enduring civic institutions.
The conversation will also highlight PBS Books' Filmmaker Talks, featuring insights from Kim A. Snyder, Director and Producer of The Librarians, and Filmmakers Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor, creators of Free for All: The Public Library. Through these discussions, audiences will gain a deeper understanding of the vision behind these films and why their stories resonate so strongly today.
This conversation highlights the vital role libraries continue to play as community anchors—places where knowledge, curiosity, and opportunity remain open to everyone.
PBS BOOKS WATCH-ALIKE:
When lawmakers seek to review a list of books, librarians find themselves on the frontlines of a national battle. Across the U.S., librarians face the impact of uniting against library collection standards that include restrictions on race-related and LGBTQIA+ content. Drawing on historical context, The Librarians explores the broader implications for education and public life.
Learn how a simple idea shaped a nation and the quiet revolutionaries who made it happen. From pioneering women behind the “Free Library Movement” to today’s librarians who service the public despite working in a contentious age of closures. Free for All shows how libraries have always been a sanctuary for generations of Americans.
