Join the Newton Free Library and GBH for an Indie Lens Pop-Up! This event will feature a screening of the Independent Lens documentary The Librarians, in which librarians across the U.S. examine how book review policies are shaping their communities.

Following the screening will be a panel discussion and Q&A with Malinda Lo, bestselling author and member of Mass Freedom to Read, and Andrea Fiorillo, Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Library Association's Intellectual Freedom/Social Responsibilities Committee. The panel will focus on the state of intellectual freedom and book bans and challenges here in Massachusetts.

About the Film:

The Librarians

By Kim A. Snyder (director/producer), Janique L. Robillard (producer), Maria Cuomo Cole (producer), and Jana Edelbaum (producer)

When Texas 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.

Watch the trailer here.

Learn more about the film and filmmakers here.

About the Panelists:

Malinda Lo is the New York Times-bestselling author of seven novels, including the National Book Award-winning Last Night at the Telegraph Club, which was the fourth most banned book in schools during the 2024-25 school year, according to PEN America. She received the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Bravery in Literature in 2025, and is an active member of the Mass Freedom To Read coalition.

Andrea Fiorillo, MLIS, is Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Library Association's Intellectual Freedom/Social Responsibilities Committee and the Manager of Cambridge Public Library's O'Neill Branch.

About Indie Lens Pop-Up:

For more than 20 years, the award-winning Indie Lens Pop-Up program has partnered with local organizations across the country to bring people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Inspired by the documentaries featured on PBS’s Independent Lens, Indie Lens Pop-Up is a space for sharing ideas and making connections that shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Since its inception in 2005, nearly half a million participants have come together at Indie Lens Pop-Up events to discuss issues that impact local communities. Learn more at pbs.org/indielenspopup.

The film runs approximately 90 minutes, followed by a 30-minute panel.

Registration is encouraged, and you'll get a reminder if you sign up. Walk-ins are also welcome.