The Digital Shelf Publishing & Library Forum: The Banned Book Index Project: Critical Data in the Fight to Preserve Access
Webinar Description
As book challenges continue to rise, data is a critical tool for libraries fighting to protect access. This webinar will introduce the Banned Book Index Project (BBIP), a collaborative initiative using Wikidata to create an open, definitive dataset of every book ban in the United States.
Attendees will learn how to navigate this resource, submit new data, and use these insights to defend intellectual freedom in their own communities. We will also provide a special overview of The Banned Book Club and Books Unbanned, highlighting how these programs are actively bypassing local restrictions to keep digital books in the hands of readers.
Join us to explore how open-source data and digital initiatives are building a more resilient infrastructure for the future of access.
Learning Outcomes
- Navigate and contribute to the Banned Book Index Project (BBIP) to effectively track, retrieve, and document censorship data.
- Leverage the Banned Book Index Project to support projects that push back on book bans and support access for library patrons.
- Deploy The Banned Book Club and Books Unbanned initiatives within your community to provide patrons with immediate digital access to challenged titles.
Intended Audience
Librarians and book industry folks interested in library led efforts to push back on book banning.
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
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.
Jill Egan, The Palace Project Curation Corps
Jill Egan manages The Palace Project Banned Book Club, a freely available digital collection of books that have been removed from libraries in response to complaint or legislation. Jill holds an MLIS from the University of Michigan and has over 30 years of experience in international K-12 and academic libraries. She is currently an instructional librarian at CT State, Asnuntuck.
Emma Karin Eriksson, Brooklyn Public Library
Emma Karin Eriksson is the Manager of Youth Civic Engagement & Expression at the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL). She earned her Master of Library & Information Science from Pratt Institute, specializing in Literacy, Education, and Outreach. In her current role, she develops and oversees programs that empower young people to become active participants in their communities through creative expression, civic literacy, and advocacy.
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.
Tasslyn Magnusson, PEN America
Tasslyn Magnusson is a senior advisor for the Freedom to Read program at PEN America, where she researches censorship attempts in K-12 libraries and creates resources to support authors whose work is targeted. She is also a fellow for EveryLibrary. With a background of twenty years in the fundraising sector, Tasslyn returned to school to earn a PhD in American History from Case Western Reserve University. She also holds an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University, a unique combination of expertise that informs her work on intellectual freedom. A published poet, her poems have appeared in various literary journals. Her chapbook, “defining,” was published in 2019.
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.
Christie Thomas, University of Chicago
Christie Thomas is the Head of Data Management Services at the University of Chicago Library. She holds a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor of Arts from Samford University. Prior to her current leadership position, she spent over 16 years as a Librarian and Education Consultant at the university, gaining extensive experience with library resources and user services. This long tenure at the University of Chicago provided her with a deep understanding of the library's needs, which she now applies to managing its complex data and digital collections.
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.