Books & Books presents

AMANDA JONES
author of THE LIBRARIAN
in conversation with store co-founder and author Judy Blume

Saturday, March 8th, 6:30pm ET
Doors open at 6:00pm
Hugh's View - 533 Eaton Street

This event is free and open to the public, however guaranteed seating will be reserved for those who purchase their copy of THE LIBRARIAN ahead of time. Should we reach capacity with the reserved seating we will change the status of this event to "Sold out" 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE BOOK AND RESERVE SEATING

Part memoir, part manifesto, the inspiring story of a Louisiana librarian advocating for inclusivity on the front lines of our vicious culture wars.

One of the things small town librarian Amanda Jones values most about books is how they can affirm a young person's sense of self. So in 2022, when she caught wind of a local public hearing that would discuss “book content,” she knew what was at stake. Schools and libraries nationwide have been bombarded by demands for books with LGTBQ+ references, discussions of racism, and more to be purged from the shelves. Amanda would be damned if her community were to ban stories representing minority groups. She spoke out that night at the meeting. Days later, she woke up to a nightmare that is still ongoing.

Amanda Jones has been called a groomer, a pedo, and a porn-pusher; she has faced death threats and attacks from strangers and friends alike. Her decision to support a collection of books with diverse perspectives made her a target for extremists using book banning campaigns-funded by dark money organizations and advanced by hard right politicians-in a crusade to make America more white, straight, and "Christian." But Amanda Jones wouldn't give up without a fight: she sued her harassers for defamation and urged others to join her in the resistance.

Mapping the book banning crisis occurring all across the nation, That Librarian draws the battle lines in the war against equity and inclusion, calling book lovers everywhere to rise in defense of our readers.

About the Author: Amanda Jones has been an educator for 23 years, at the same middle school she attended as a child. She has served as President of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians and won numerous awards for her work in school libraries, including School Library Journal Librarian of the Year. A sought-after keynote speaker, Amanda is a frequent volunteer for state and national library associations, as well as a co-founder of the Livingston Parish Library Alliance and founding member of Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship. She lives in Livingston Parish, Louisiana.

About the moderator: Judy Blume has been writing for more than 50 years.  She has been making up stories inside her head for even longer.  Her 29 books have sold more than 90 million copies in 39 languages. Her beloved books for young people include Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, recently adapted into a major motion picture, the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge, as well as Just as Long as We’re Together, Tiger Eyes and Forever.  Her novels for adult readers include Summer Sisters, and In the Unlikely Event. An acclaimed documentary, Judy Blume Forever, is now streaming. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters E. B. White Award for Lifetime Achievement in Children’s Literature.  She lives in Key West where she and her husband George Cooper founded Books and Books @ The Studios. These days she can be found working several days a week at her shop.  Stop by and say hello.

This is an in-person event taking place in Key West, Florida.

This event is free and open to the public, however guaranteed seating will be reserved for those who purchase their copy of THE LIBRARIAN ahead of time.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE BOOK AND RESERVE SEATING