In New Memoir, Librarian Amanda Jones Recounts Her Fight Against Book Bans: 'I'm Going to Keep Going' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Amanda Jones and the cover of ‘That Librarian’.Photo:Kathryn & Traveis Photography; Courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing

Kathryn & Traveis Photography; Courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing

“I’ve been speaking on censorship for years before I was targeted and before my town was targeted,” Jones tells PEOPLE. “I had friends in Texas and Florida who had experienced some really wild things in their areas, so I knew it could happen, but I wasn’t prepared for people to be so obsessive and hateful.”

Jones recounts the emotional toll of this experience, and her legal journey as she sued for defamation, in her new memoir,That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America, out now from Bloomsbury Publishing.

Courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing

Amanda Jones.Kathryn & Traveis Photography

Kathryn & Traveis Photography

How did your childhood love of reading lead you to the education field?I just always knew that’s what I wanted to be, a teacher. I read theHarry Potterbooks in college and it reignited that passion for reading. As an undergrad, I got special permission to take library science graduate courses, so that when I graduated, I would have all my certifications. I taught 14 years of reading and English language arts, and this is my 10th year in the library. I couldn’t imagine a different world for myself.

When you spoke at that public library board meeting in 2022, did you anticipate the reaction that you got?No. I’ve been speaking on censorship for years before I was targeted and before my town was targeted. I had friends in Texas and Florida who had experienced some really wild things in their areas, so I knew it could happen, but I wasn’t prepared for people to be so obsessive and hateful.I have a 24-year record of stellar, almost near-perfect observations, and I’ve gotten grants for my school and I have open communication with parents. I have no problems at school. But these people have been trying to get me fired for two years for speaking at a public library board meeting. I’ve stopped trying to understand it.

My own child is White, and I want her to read authors that are not just White, and read books that have characters that aren’t just White. I think that when you read, it makes you a better, more empathetic human being.While you write about the online attacks you faced, you also discuss the support you received from some members of your community and beyond. Is there one instance that sticks out to you?I was having a really low day one day, and one of my former students named Sean messaged me. He told me about his life and what kind of person he’s grown up to be, and he thanked me for making him feel safe in school. It’s been a year and a half; now he messages me for book recommendations.I think that’s so special because he’s not the only one. So many former students have messaged me, just showing their support. I hold that in my heart.

You provide a great list of resources in the book to help combat book banning. What are some highlights that you’d recommend?One of the best resources that a lot of people don’t mention is Kelly Jensen. She is a former librarian, who now writes for Book Riot, and every week she has acensorship roundup. To me, that is the best resource because you can know what’s happening in every state. You start to see the tactics being used and you start seeing what works and what doesn’t work, and then you can use them in your own community.

You founded theLivingston Parish Library Alliance, which aims to support the library system in your area. What are some of your recent successes?We recently successfully defended a book calledI’m Not a Girl.They had all the pitchforks out for that book. I asked for help from theTulane First Amendment Law Clinicand got them to write a letter on our behalf, and dozens of us showed up to speak. I helped coordinate all that.I’m also very proud of helping foundLouisiana Citizens Against Censorship. We had nine anti-library bills in the Louisiana legislature this past session. We beat seven.

Are there any updates to your case?We appealed to the Louisiana Supreme Court. My lawyer filed probably three weeks ago and the defendants have 30 days from then to file a rebuttal. Then we’ll have 30 days to follow up on their rebuttal, and then it’s in the Supreme Court’s hands.They may listen, they may take the case, they may not. It may be dead in the water. Or they might rule in my favor and then we get to go. It’s like we’re in limbo right now. I’m not very hopeful, but that’s not the point. The point is, I’m not a quitter, and I’m going to keep going until I have absolutely no avenues left to take.

Is there a general message that you hope readers will take away from your book?My hope is that people who read it will think twice before they share things on social media. I’ve done lessons with the kids on that, on what we are seeing online and how we can be better digital citizens. I want people to be cognizant that not everything they see on Facebook or on social media or on the internet is true.There’s a lot of anti-library legislation, and a lot of libraries are being defunded. Librarians are being fired and they’re quitting. I need people to understand how important libraries are to our culture and our society. They’re one of the last great places that people in our community can go for free to get wifi, to get out of the heat or get out of the cold, to access databases and get help for resumes. If people don’t speak out, we’re going to lose those, and our society is going to be so much worse because of it.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer , from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in Americais now available wherever books are sold.

source: people.com