Every so often, a book comes along that feels especially relevant—not because it’s a masterpiece, but because it speaks directly to the moment we’re living in. That Librarian by Amanda Jones is one of those books. Part memoir, part manifesto, it tells the story of how speaking up at a library board meeting in 2022 led to a firestorm of online harassment, libel, and court battles, all for the radical belief that libraries should be for everyone.
Jones doesn’t just recount the blow-by-blow of what happened to her—though that alone is intriguing. She also breaks down how libraries actually function, from how collections are curated to what happens when books are challenged. As someone who has basically lived in libraries my entire life, I found those sections fascinating. Did you know that library policies already require kids to be accompanied by an adult? Wild how that fact gets ignored when people start screaming about “protecting the children.”
For me, the heart of this book is the reminder that libraries serve everyone. Kids, teens, adults, seniors. LGBTQ+ folks, straight folks, people of every race, gender, religion, or lack thereof. The whole point of a library is access. And when people start deciding that certain books—especially books with LGBTQIA+ representation—shouldn’t exist, they’re really saying that certain people shouldn’t exist.
This book hit home for me in a big way. As a queer man who grew up in a religious, anti-queer household, I know firsthand what it’s like to be told that people like me shouldn’t be seen, shouldn’t be spoken about, shouldn’t have stories on the shelves. But stories save lives. And in my attached vlog, I share a few personal experiences on why that matters.
So, what’s the takeaway? Read banned books. Support libraries. Keep fighting for intellectual freedom. And maybe send a librarian a thank-you card—they’re doing more for democracy than half the people in office. 📚💜