“The hate level is unreal”: fighting book bans and protecting librarians

We speak with Amanda Jones, a school librarian in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. Ms. Jones is the author of “That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America.” The book recounts how speaking out for race- and gender-related books in libraries led to her being targeted and threatened by book-banning extremists. She describes initial abandonment by friends and colleagues who were afraid to speak up. But nationwide, librarians and their constituents are fighting back.  Ms. Jones includes tips for librarians and teachers facing attacks. Overview 00:00-00:47 Intros 00:47-01:35 What a Library Board of Control is 01:35-02:16 What Amanda Jones said at Board of Control meeting 02:16-02:33 Trevor Project 02:33-03:19 Board of Control members’ responses 03:19-04:48 What happened then 04:48-05:38 Reactions by friends and neighbors to attacks  05:38-06:16 Reactions from school administrators and colleagues 06:16-07:02 Changes over time 07:02-09:09 Impact on children of marginalized communities of books with characters like them 09:09-11:19 How decisions of what books to purchase for school libraries get made 11:19-11:53 Guidelines 11:53-13:58 Processes when there are book challenges 13:58-14:45 Decision process in public libraries 14:45-15:30 Appeal to courts 15:30-18:39 Impetus for book banning campaigns 18:39-20:49

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