School librarian and library advocate Amanda Jones has been named to the 2025 TIME100 Next list.

The TIME100 Next list spotlights “changemakers from around the globe who are shaping the next generation of leadership and redefining what progress, influence, and impact mean in today's world," TIME chief executive officer Jessica Sibley said in a statement announcing the list.

“I’m deeply honored to be named to the TIME100 Next list,” Jones, the 2021 School Librarian of the Year, told SLJ. “This recognition is not just about me—it’s about the urgent importance of standing up for intellectual freedom.”

A middle school librarian in Louisiana, Jones was included in the Advocates section of the annual list—recognized for standing up against censorship in her community, then remaining steadfast in her support for intellectual freedom despite personal and professional attacks. She filed a defamation lawsuit against those who accused her of being a groomer and distributing obscene materials to minors, among other things. The case is ongoing.

A co-founding member of Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship, she chronicled her experiences in a memoir, That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America, which was recently optioned for film.

She is also featured in the documentary The Librarians, which chronicles the stories of librarians across the country fighting back against censorship attempts amid personal and professional attacks.

Her TIME100 profile was written by actress and free speech advocate Sarah Jessica Parker, who was one of the producers of The Librarians.

“Through it all, Amanda has never wavered on her commitment to free speech and education,” Parker wrote. “She has become a national voice for intellectual freedom and democracy, receiving awards from both the American Library Association and the American Association of School Librarians in 2023. And last year, she published a powerful memoir.

“Libraries are the heartbeat of our communities. An essential gateway for information and self-discovery. It has been a privilege to get to know Amanda through her work and the upcoming documentary The Librarians. She is beyond deserving of wider recognition.”

Jones has no plans to stop fighting against censorship and advocating for books and libraries.

“The right to read, to learn, and to access information must never be taken for granted,” she said. “We must continue to speak out for libraries, protect spaces of knowledge and curiosity, and use our voices to defend the freedom to think and explore. I’m grateful for this platform and the chance to amplify this vital work.”