“Free for All: The Public Library” Is Worth Checking Out

Free for All: The Public Library (Lucie Faulknor/Dawn Logsdon, 2025) 3 out of 5 stars

You may not realize how revolutionary the American public-library system was, or you may not realize how the American public library generated revolution, but go to any public library, and you can find out for free, no special status or subscription needed. That, or you can watch PBS’s Free for All: The Public Library, part of their Independent Lens documentary series. It provides a comprehensive history of the so-called “palace for the people.”

If the purpose of Free for All is to educate, it’s a resounding success. The documentary is the video equivalent of a reference guide for all things public library: its history, major figures, evolution, and challenges. Although it is a semi-personal account of the importance of the library system, it is never limited to a single perspective. Its broad variety of topics demonstrates how libraries were fundamental to the women’s rights and civil-rights movements, how they contributed to the assimilation of immigrants, and how they are caught in the crossfire of modern censorship battles. While it may not focus on any of these in particular depth, it functions well as an introduction to its subject and doesn’t shy away from controversial aspects of its past.

To craft their narrative, the filmmakers make extensive use of archival footage and photographs. These moments allow us to see the faces of the unappreciated people behind the history of the library. Although these resources may be employed a great deal, these snapshots into history are well-selected and become more powerful when it’s made clear how much of them were sourced from libraries. However, it doesn’t feel as though the documentary has a consistent visual style, and certain elements, such as the sparse animated sequences, appear unnecessary and cheapen the rest of the film.

Similarly, some of the interviews do not quite hit the mark. It is impressive how far across the country the directors’ search takes them. And although many of the people featured are humorous, insightful, and even inspiring, some seen almost too specific and contribute to the overarching sense that the documentarians miss their target. While the film may want to give a message on how though libraries are under attack they could be an important answer to healing national division, its equally broad and overly specific coverage of tax reform, book banning, and COVID-19 are inadequate to understand the problem and its cause.

Although many featured interview subjects are humorous, insightful, and even inspiring, some don’t add much insight into the core of the film’s intended theme. Nevertheless, as an avid supporter of public libraries, it’s hard to remain unbiased about a documentary that so fully appreciates them. And Free for All’s greatest achievement is showing how this institution, commonly taken for granted and under threat, is an uncommon and essential tool in the development of our history and of our greater human rights.

Hannah Tran

Hannah Tran is a filmmaker, writer, and friendly neighborhood barista from Las Vegas. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Film and English and is currently working on her first feature film. In her spare time, she can be found attending film festivals, running a local book club, and, of course, devouring as many movies as possible.