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To register for this session, click this link: The Digital Shelf Publishing & Library Forum: Ebook Advocacy Action Round Up
Hear from leading organizations advocating for better library access to digital content in a fast-paced lightning round featuring: Library Futures, ReadersFirst, Urban Libraries Council Action Team, Ebook Study Group, Boston Library Consortia, NY State Ebook Working Group, and CULC.
This event will be cosponsored by ReadersFirst, COSLA and the ALA Ebook Interest Group.
**What is The Digital Shelf Publishing & Library Forum?**
The Digital Shelf Publishing & Library Forum a free, collaborative webinar series from Lyrasis, ReadersFirst, and COSLA. The Forum provides a platform for open discussion about the evolving digital content ecosystem and its impact on libraries and publishers.
Through expert panels and quick “lightning rounds,” the series fosters honest, practical conversations on complex topics such as sustainable ebook pricing, equitable access, and content discovery. The goal: to spark meaningful dialogue, share actionable insights, and develop collaborative strategies to address today's digital content challenges.
Librarians participating in The Digital Shelf will be eligible to receive a continuing education certificate from Lyrasis Learning.
Co-Sponsor
ALA Ebook Interest Group
Co-Hosts & Partners
Michael Blackwell, ReadersFirst
Michael Blackwell is the Director of the St. Mary's County Library and leads ReadersFirst. As a prominent national advocate for e-resources, he is instrumental in coordinating efforts across nearly 300 libraries to campaign for fair pricing, sustainable licensing, and an easier patron experience for library e-book content.
Jeremy Johannesen, Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA)
Jeremy Johannesen is the Executive Director of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA), an organization dedicated to supporting state library administrative agencies. He is a recognized advocate for nationwide library policy, leading COSLA's long-term efforts to influence publisher pricing and licensing models for e-books and digital content, ensuring equitable access and sustainable solutions for public libraries across the states.
Presenters
Micah May, Lyrasis
Micah May is the Director of Business Development for the Ebooks and Community Engagement (EBCE) division at Lyrasis, where he builds partnerships to support The Palace Project.
With over 15 years of experience, Micah is a leader in technology and library innovation. He previously served as Director of Ebooks at the Digital Public Library of America, where he spearheaded the Palace Marketplace and Palace Bookshelf. He also directed technology for Library for All, launching ebook apps in developing nations. As a Senior Director at the New York Public Library, he led strategy and innovation, conceiving and directing SimplyE, an open-source platform that simplifies ebook access. He also secured over $250 million in ebook donations from publishers to create Open Ebooks, an app-based library for children in low-income communities.
Micah holds a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School and a B.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He began his career as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he helped create a new research and development group.
Michelle Reed, Library Futures
Michelle Reed is the Director of Programs for Library Futures, an organization that advocates for digital rights and equitable access to knowledge. She leads research and community initiatives aimed at driving the legal, political, and technological changes necessary to achieve open access for digital works and educational resources.
Lisa Wells, Urban Libraries Council Action Team
Lisa Wells is the Executive Director of the Pioneer Library System and a leader in the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) Action Team focused on digital content. She is a strong voice for political and community advocacy, working to secure equitable access and sustainable licensing terms for public library e-book collections.
Kyle Courtney, Ebook Study Group
Kyle Courtney is the Director of Copyright and Information Policy for Harvard Library and a co-founder of the Ebook Study Group. His work focuses on providing the legal research and multi-state coordination needed to address restrictive e-book licensing models, championing state-level legislation to ensure libraries can meet their public access missions.
Marc Hoffeditz, Boston Library Consortia
Marc Hoffeditz is the inaugural Resource Sharing Program Manager for the Boston Library Consortium (BLC). He leads the BLC’s resource sharing portfolio and future-focused strategic planning for digital content access across consortia.
A key leader in library advocacy, Mr. Hoffeditz co-chaired the BLC's Ebook Sharing Working Group, which published the "E-Book ILL Roadmaps," an award-winning resource for interlibrary loan practices. He also plays a central role in BLC's initiatives regarding Controlled Digital Lending (CDL) and is currently completing his Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS).
Amy Mikel, NY State Ebook Working Group
Amy Mikel is the Director of Customer Experience at Brooklyn Public Library and a key contributor to the NY State Ebook Working Group. She is instrumental in initiatives related to digital content accessibility and addressing censorship, particularly through her involvement with BPL's nationally recognized Books Unbanned project.
Vicky Varga, Canadian Urban Library Council (CULC)
Vicky Varga is the Executive Director of Collections, Marketing, and Technology at the Edmonton Public Library and a leader within the Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC) Digital Content Working Group. She advocates for sustainable digital solutions for Canadian public libraries and oversees the national digital book club, One eRead Canada.
Lyrasis Learning events are delivered using the Zoom videoconferencing platform and will have AI-generated captions available. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is available upon request. If you need ASL or other accommodations to support your participation in the course, please contact us at es@lyrasis.org at least 2 weeks in advance of the event or as soon as possible.