Monday, February 9, 2026

The Librarians Film is Agitprop to Produce Outrage So American Library Association Librarians Can Continue Harming Children

The Librarians film is agitprop intended to produce outrage about "censorship" and "book bans" among the general public so the American Library Association's school librarians may continue to ply schoolchildren with inappropriate material, as they have for 60 years.

Worse, the film is intended to be used as agitprop for years to come.  Agitprop means "agitation" and "propaganda," per Dr. James Lindsay, who also discusses "paltering," which is exactly what the ALA does—particularly in The Librarians.

I have already written about the film in The Hill, including its paltering by providing a half-quote of President Dwight D. Eisenhower to give an impression about inappropriate books in schools that is essentially opposite of what the full quote said.  Please read:

I will dissect the film as time goes on, so follow me here and @OccupyLibraries.  But in the meantime, let's look as how the film is agitprop—because Kim A. Snyder, the film's director, says it is:

[Amanda] Jones said that the film shows how librarians are banding together and bringing these stories to light.

"We've gone from being independent and isolated to what Kim has said, that we're like librarians without borders because we're building relationships with other librarians," Jones said.

Now, after screening the documentary in various places, the "librarians without borders" have started a movement. "The Librarians" team plans to continue this campaign throughout 2026. They hope to encourage civic engagement and take these book debates out of a polarized partisan space. 

The PBS broadcast premiere puts the documentary into homes all over the country. 

"The majority of Americans really care but had no idea things had gotten like this, specifically in terms of the impact on the librarian," Snyder said. "We want to expose that and have people be both outraged and activated to get civically engaged. We also want to support organizations of librarians as they are the firewall protecting one of the most fundamental rights in our democracy."

Source:  "Louisiana Librarian Who Fought Against Book Bans Will Be Featured on New PBS Documentary," by Joy Holden, The Advocate, February 6, 2026.

Kim Snyder is consistent with her message that The Librarians is agitprop designed to get people who support harming kids to get onto library and school boards:


So let's not all be taken in by an organization that has worked for over 60 years to eliminate parental rights and indoctrinate schoolchildren.

Lastly, listen to Dr. James Lindsay discussing agitprop and how paltering is used for that purpose—and remember to follow me for more on this agitprop called The Librarians as time goes on.

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Saturday, February 7, 2026

NJ Freedom to Read Act Model Policy Is Invalid Since It Was Written by a Fired Librarian

NJ Freedom to Read Act model policies are invalid since they were written by a fired librarian.  School librarian Elissa Malespina, who was fired from Verona High School for book displays on race and LGBTQ+ themes, and school librarian Martha Hickson, who retired from North Hunterdon-Voorhees High School before she could be fired for giving kids obscenity under NJ 2C:34-3, wrote the policy for the new New Jersey Freedom to Read Act.  Martha Hickson introduced New Jersey State Senator Andrew Zwicker to the Freedom to Read Act that is written by the American Library Association in Chicago, Illinois.  That is now New Jersey law.

Now revealed is that Martha Hickson and Elissa Malespina also wrote the school policies required under the law:

Martha Hickson

Before I was fired, I already knew Martha Hickson’s story. I reached out to her for help and guidance while writing South Orange and Maplewood’s district policies related to censorship and book challenges. Her experience and deep understanding of how these attacks unfold shaped that work in lasting ways. The policy we wrote, informed by her knowledge, is now used as a model across New Jersey.

When I did lose my job, Martha was the first person I called. I was crying. I was overwhelmed. I was dealing with severe depression and anxiety triggered by my firing. Martha did not just listen. She helped me find a therapist and a doctor. She gave me the courage to speak publicly about what happened, not for attention, but so others would not feel as isolated as I did.

Seeing us together on screen, as we testified at a hearing in support of New Jersey’s Freedom to Read bill, was a reminder that this work is collective, and that the relationships built in this fight often begin long before crisis hits.

Source: Elissa Malespina blog post provided in X post thread shown below. 


When you see Elissa Malespina together with Martha Hickson on the screen in "The Librarians," it's right after Martha Hickson says, "fifth graders have penises."

And these are the people who wrote the policy to be followed by all schools in New Jersey and modeled in other states.  

Unbelievable.

The policy schools must follow per a law written by American Library Association was written by a school librarian fired for gr[00]ming and another school librarian who retired before job action could be taken against her and who worked with ALA to get the Freedom to Read Act passed in New Jersey—because "fifth graders have penises."

"The policy we wrote, informed by her knowledge, is now used as a model across New Jersey."

Unbelievable.




To assist boards of education in developing a policy on the curation of library material within a school library, the commissioner shall develop a model policy. In developing the model policy, the commissioner shall consult with the State Librarian, the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, and the New Jersey School Boards Association.

Clearly we have an admission here that the model policies were written by two school librarians, one fired and the other who helped ALA get it passed into law in New Jersey.  

We have an admission against interest here ("policy we wrote, informed by her knowledge, is now used as a model across New Jersey") that the policies were not developed as required by the law, or at a minimum one of the consultants who wrote the model policy for the commissioner had already been fired for ideologically gr[00]ming school children.  

School Library Journal tells us what happened from a point of view very much in favor of Elissa Malespina.  Still, we get a sense of why she was fired:

"Mrs. Malespina does a nice job with creating collections for display about equity, specifically regarding the themes of race and LGBTQ.  However, the selections never seem to go beyond those two topics.  This has created the perception that the library is about only two things and not necessarily about promoting a variety of different books centered around a variety of different topics.  Although it is difficult to say, this may be why the number of books that are checked-out of the library is not as high as might be expected.  This approach to library displays creates a student space that is not inclusive enough to a wide variety of topics such as sports, politics, health, science fiction, graphic novels, etc.  In order to create positive interactions with students and parents the space has to be a hub for events and a space that promotes a variety of topics and interests.  It is recommended that there is a reflection on what the space is for and how it can be better utilized to serve the student and broader community."

In the review's conclusion, the principal said he would not recommend that the school bring Malespina back for the next school year.


So now we know why she was fired.  My opinion from reading this is that she was fired for ideologically gr[00]ming school children.  Whatever—this is the person who wrote the policies where the law says "the commissioner shall consult with the State Librarian, the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, and the New Jersey School Boards Association."  Even if Elissa Malespina was actually consulted under the law, her having been fired for ideological gr[00]ming of children should have invalidated her participation.  Thus the model policies are essentially invalid.  

Any law case brought to invalidate the NJ Freedom to Read Act will point to this very issue.  Any other state laws copying from New Jersey will be similarly suspect.

The law is not being followed.  The policies as written violate the law.  This was always the intention of the cleverly worded FTRA as written by ALA, but here is the solid proof that ALA people—including a fired librarian—wrote the policies, not those charged with that duty under the law.  

So the model policies are illegal.  Schools need not follow illegal model policies, and those that already have should rescind them.  They were written by a school librarian fired for ideological gr[00]ming of school children, not as required by law.



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