Although Lawrence has not weathered the book-banning movements that have swept conservative states and other sectors of Kansas, local librarians want to see patrons taking proactive measures to support their educational institutions.
A panel of local librarians, joined by “The Librarians” producer Janique L. Robillard, followed a Free State Festival screening of the documentary, which tracks recent book bans in conservative states.
Moderated by former Rep. Christina Haswood, the panel discussed state and federal actions that could impact local librarians.
The documentary primarily follows librarians in Texas and Florida who fought against the surge of book bans that arose in response to the Krause list, an accounting of 850 books deemed unfit for school libraries by a Texas lawmaker. These books were overwhelmingly written by or featured stories about queer people and people of color, or included sex education.
The Krause list is but one part of an ongoing movement to criminalize libraries and their employees for providing access to information. “The Librarians” aims to reveal how this recent rash of book banning — led by conservative organizations like Moms for Liberty, purporting to operate in the interest of children — represents an organized, tyrannical effort to impinge on intellectual freedom through censorship.
“Like I said, we’re lucky here in Kansas,” Robin Hastings said, referring to local book-banning movements. Hastings is a library services consultant with the Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS), based in Lawrence.
She referenced book bans in the Gardner Edgerton School District and a slew of challenges that arose in Ottawa but have fallen silent in the past few months.
Hastings said she thinks the Lawrence Public Library is strong, and “I would be incredibly surprised to hear about that happening here.”
However, Kansas has not remained untouched by censorship. A library in St. Mary’s was forced to pull queer books from the shelves at risk of losing their building. In 2024, Kansas Library Association President Sean Bird said there were attempts to remove 64 books from libraries over the previous two years, while a Kansas lawmaker requested the introduction of a bill to rate the “appropriateness” of materials in public school libraries.
Even as reports of book-banning movements in Lawrence remain low, state and federal actions can impact local libraries.
“There was a bill to remove tenure protections to all faculty at public institutions in Kansas,” said Carol Smith, the University of Kansas dean of libraries. “That bill did not make it through, but we are fully anticipating it to come next year. That’s all to say, if academic faculty protections are removed, the librarians that had those protections and no longer do are going to be just as vulnerable as our school and public libraries. This is an assault on ideas. Not just access of ideas for young people, but all people, adults, everyone in this room.”
The KU library system includes three flagship and three disciplinary libraries, as well as a law library in Lawrence and a medical library at KU Medical Center in Kansas City. Community Access Workstations are available in five of the six primary on-campus libraries, which give Lawrence residents unaffiliated with the university “access to many KU Libraries databases, e-journals and e-books.”
In addition to other services offered by KU academic libraries, eligible Lawrence residents who are not affiliated with KU can apply for a Library Borrower Card, which costs $20 per year.
Smith emphasized that Lawrencians can contact their representatives in support of libraries, and Hastings urged the audience to be proactive by attending school board or public library board meetings.
“There is nothing more powerful than butts in seats, and showing your support by showing up is so vital, and so that needs to happen before the challenge hits the library,” Hastings said.
She continued, “Get to know your librarian, find out what their particular issues are, and go to your city council meetings, go to your library board meetings, go to your school board meetings and advocate for them.”
According to the film’s website, “The Librarians” aims for a nationwide theatrical release later this year. People can request screenings at their “local theatre, library, school, or conference” through this form.
Free State Festival
Free State Festival continues with screenings, comedy shows, concerts and more through June 29. All Access Festival Passes are sold out, but attendees can purchase individual tickets for specific events, with prices ranging from free to $25.
Purchase passes and tickets, and view the full event lineup, at Free State Festival’s website here.
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Wulfe Wulfemeyer (they/them), reporter and news editor, has worked with The Lawrence Times since May 2025. They can be reached at wulfe@lawrencekstimes.com.
Read their complete bio here. Read their work for the Times here.
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