Amanda Jones

Amanda Jones is a school librarian based in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, who has dedicated more than two decades to educating youth in the very middle school she once attended. Over that time, she has cultivated a vibrant, inclusive library environment—transforming it into a hub of exploration, innovation and community for students.

In 2021, Jones was honored as the School Library Journal’s “School Librarian of the Year,” recognizing her leadership, creativity and commitment during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also made Library Journal’s “Movers & Shakers” list that same year for her innovative approach to connecting students to global learning opportunities—even when physically separated.

Since 2021, she has continued to receive national recognition for her fearless advocacy of intellectual freedom and equitable access to information. In March 2023, she was awarded the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Intellectual Freedom Award for her work in defending libraries and learners in her state. Shortly thereafter, in April 2023, she was named recipient of the Paul Howard Award for Courage by the American Library Association (ALA), which honors those who display unusual courage in support of library programs and services. In 2025, she was named to the 2025 TIME100 Next list.

After making a speech against book censorship at her local library board in July 2022, Jones received death threats and experienced harassment, bullying, and more. Facing the fight head-on, she became one of the first librarians in the U.S. to file a defamation lawsuit against her detractors. She tells her story in her debut memoir, “That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America,” released in 2024. The book details her fight against censorship in Louisiana, and of the rise in attacks on librarians and intellectual freedom across the U.S.

Jones is also a founding and active leader of community-based initiatives, including the Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship and the Livingston Parish Library Alliance, emphasizing collaboration between school and public libraries to resist censorship efforts and ensure library collections reflect diverse voices and experiences.