Directed by Kim A. Snyder (the Peabody award-winning Newtown) and executive produced by Sarah Jessica Parker, The Librarians examines the book bans threatening schools and libraries throughout the United States. In its opening moments, the documentary acknowledges Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 — one of literature’s preeminent conversation-starters about the link between censorship and authoritarian control. Even so, Snyder, who is fresh off her Oscar-nominated short Death by Numbers, takes a novel approach to spotlighting everyday heroes like Suzette Baker and Carolyn Foote.

As legislators take aim at works that center on race and queerness, a group of librarians dubbed the FReadom Fighters put their lives at risk to resist book bans in states like Texas and Florida. Determined to keep stories about all identities and communities on their shelves, the titular figures at The Librarians center reiterate the power of collective, community-driven action.