Film & Conversation: Books under Attack
Join us during Banned Books Week for a screening of The Librarians, a documentary exploring censorship and the pressures facing libraries in the US, followed by a conversation on the importance of freedom of expression and access to knowledge. (SG Certificate*)
15:45-17:50. Walk-in from 15:30 hrs.
Admission is free, registration is required
Who decides what we read?
What happens when political groups decide which books belong on library shelves? When stories about racism and LGBTQ+ lives are labelled "inappropriate"? When librarians are publicly accused of being "groomers" simply for making those books available?
In the United States these questions are not hypothetical. In 2021, Texas State Representative Matt Krause compiled a list of more than 850 books that schools were urged to review for supposedly objectionable content. Many of the titles dealt with race, racism, gender, or LGBTQ+ identities. Since then, coordinated campaigns to challenge and remove books from schools and libraries have spread across the country, with librarians increasingly becoming the targets of intimidation, harassment, and political pressure.
The Librarians
In The Librarians, award-winning filmmaker Kim A. Snyder follows librarians who refuse to give in to censorship despite mounting hostility and personal attacks. Their stories raise urgent questions about freedom of expression, democracy, and the vital role libraries play in an open society. Recently nominated for an Emmy Award, the documentary has received widespread recognition for its timely portrayal of these issues.
Language: English | Subtitles: English
Conversation
Following the screening, we will continue the conversation with a panel of experts, exploring what book bans and censorship mean beyond the American context. How should universities, libraries, and society respond when access to knowledge comes under pressure? And what can we learn from the experiences of the librarians featured in the film?
This event will be moderated by Tilburg University Manager Library Marjolein Beumer.
Speaker
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Prof. dr. Odile Heynders
Professor of Comparative Literature at Tilburg University’s Department of Culture StudiesOdile Heynders’ research focuses on European literature, literary writers as public intellectuals, and the relationship between fiction, politics, and democracy. In her work, she explores how literature can function as a form of social knowledge and how writers and literary texts engage with political and social debates. She is the author of Writers as Public Intellectuals: Literature, Celebrity, Democracy (2016) and currently works on the relationship between fiction and democracy. At this event she brings a literary perspective to the discussion about the role of fiction in democratic societies.
Banned Books Week 2026
This event is organized in cooperation with the Tilburg University Library as part of Dutch Banned Books Week 2026, a national initiative raising awareness about reading freedom and the importance of free access to information. During the week, the library will present a special Banned Books display featuring books that have been challenged or banned in various countries. Visitors are invited to explore the display.
Contact: Hannah van den Bosch (Studium Generale)
