LFI 12

Library Freedom Institute 12: Advanced Knowledge for Digital Resistance

Library Freedom Institute (LFI) is a training program for library workers focused on privacy, intellectual freedom, and critical technology. We teach librarians the skills necessary to support information democracy in the 21st Century; from educating community members, to installing privacy software, to influencing local policy.

Expanding on previous Library Freedom Institute trainings in intellectual freedom, data privacy, and AI critical approaches to resisting Big Tech, this advanced series embraces the reality that much of our work remains in progress. LFI 12 is iterative and builds on the expertise you’ve been studying and sharing with your communities.

General course information and resources

• Code of Conduct
• Discord for asynchronous discussion (link shared privately)
• Mailing list and wiki for weekly curriculum
• Zoom for weekly synchronous sessions (link shared privately)

Course structure

• 10 weeks, exact dates TBD, but taking place sometime between February and April 2027
• Weekly synchronous two-hour video sessions are TBD
• Weekly discussion questions and readings

What to expect/what is expected of you

• A generous and generative group to build community with, learn together, share ideas, experiences, and resources
• A unique curriculum rooted in honest engagement with the world
• Attend each weekly session
• If you need to miss a session, please email in advance
• Participate in weekly conversations
• Zoom sessions will be a mix of lecture, large group discussions, and breakouts
• Participate in asynch Discord convos
• Complete weekly readings
• Weekly topics are subject to change, sometimes wildly, based on group vibes, the world, and the prior week

Schedule and curriculum

Schedule overview

Week	Date and time	Topic	Lecturer
1	TBD	Intro week: what are we up against now/Nerd Reich update; personal/professional mission statements/political philosophy, why am I here, zine activity, bring a formative text	TBD
2	TBD	Community organizing, how to do civic engagement, community asset mapping, bring in folks doing this work, later on reflection on who you have reached out to	TBD
3	TBD	Break up with Big Tech (tools, strategies) - LFP member experiences	TBD
4	TBD	Break up with Big Tech (week 2 - hands on, homework)	TBD
5	TBD	Talking back to power: bosses, admins, boards (practicing and modeling convos, homework, arguments, talking points)
6	TBD	Skeptic's Guide to AI	TBD
7	TBD	Scams, info literacy against slopworld	TBD
8	TBD	Program development, project planning	TBD
9	TBD	TBD	TBD
10	TBD	Closing week, connect back to mission statement and project plan, what has developed or changed	TBD