Librarians Are Radicalizing Their Communities About Why the Internet Is Broken

Five librarians from Library Freedom Project open by framing the problem: patrons and everyday people often feel overwhelmed by the scale of technology's harms and believe they have no agency. The speakers argue that privacy work should start from where people still have control, and that fear fed by media hype can be turned into practical steps. Their values-based approach pairs long-term organizing with short-term harm reduction.

The middle section covers the group's programs. The Library Freedom Institute is a cohort-based train-the-trainer course for library workers, backed by a community of practice. Free workshops cover public records, power mapping and open source intelligence, and one-page handouts address law enforcement contact and data brokers. The team also described in-person camps, regional meetings, and consultations on harassment and surveillance self-defense, plus work on vendor contracts with major publishers that now operate as data analytics firms.

The talk closes with a question about right-wing groups seeking seats on library boards and campaigns against Pride displays. The advice was to join boards, attend meetings and speak up, since these efforts are often organized. The speakers also invited technologists to collaborate on usability testing and tools, arguing that libraries are a useful place to reach the public.