A Shadow Librarian: Fighting Back Against Encroaching Capitalism

Challenges Facing Modern Public Libraries

The public library is under attack. Calls for book banning are at an all time high. Some states have passed laws that hold librarians legally accountable for offering "unacceptable" materials to minors. But before this fire started, another one was already burning. In an era of digital content, from eBooks to streaming movies, public libraries have been forced to accept draconian terms of service at the expense of their patrons and to the benefit of corporations. Grossly inflated eBook prices and licensing, unobtainable materials that went out of print due to artificial scarcity, exorbitant fees for access to academic research; these are just a few of the myriad of ways that libraries have been forced to bow before capitalism, all because of a desire to serve the public. But we can fight back...

The Rise of Shadow Libraries and Open Archives

And no one says we need to fight fairly.

Preserving Information in the Digital Age

I’d like to tell you some real life stories of a public librarian with a quasi-legal, dark grey skillset. And I’d love to share some ideas about what you can do to help others. If I can do this, you can. And anyone can be a shadow librarian.