On Monday June 15 2015 the OpenITP Techno-Activism Third Monday presented Libraries, Digital Privacy, & Data Literacy – a conversation about the impact of surveillance and data collection on citizens, specifically on disadvantaged communities. Learn more about the privacy and data issues that librarians face in their work and new efforts to empower them to address these issues. Libraries are among the most trusted institutions in their communities, making librarians uniquely positioned to prepare patrons for the privacy challenges brought about by the pervasiveness of data sharing, profiling, DRM, third-party platforms, and surveillance technologies. Individuals with the greatest digital literacy needs are also the most vulnerable to abuses of personal data, creating an even more urgent need for libraries to address these issues. Librarians are prepared to meet this need. Join us for an informal conversation highlighting new efforts afoot to train librarians in digital privacy and data literacy. We are bringing together librarians, policy advocates, technologists, and the communities they all serve to further bridge not just the digital divide but the privacy digital divide. Panel: Melissa Morrone, public librarian, Brooklyn; Seeta Peña Gangadharan, senior research fellow,Open Technology Institute; Bonnie Tijerina, Data & Society Fellow; Alycia Sellie, Associate Librarian for Collections, Graduate Center Library. Moderator: Audrey Evans, Head of Research, Dollar a Day, Inc. Video is below.
On April 17 2014 the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) held a public hearing at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C. to examine the need for high-speed broadband in the nation’s libraries. The event coincided with Library Week and also the release by the N.T.I.A. of 3 case studies of the effects of BTOP funding on libraries. The program comprised 3 panels – 1) The Vision: What happens when we get it right? This panel explored innovative practices and partnerships and new strategies that have the potential to serve individuals and communities well. 2) The Data: Panelists explored what we know about broadband connections and services in America’s libraries. What are the metrics that were needed to assess whether sufficient connectivity is in place? What are the metrics that could be used to assess success? 3) Moving Forward: a session for exploring solutions for sufficient connectivity in libraries. Amongst those testifying was FCC Chair Tom Wheeler who is actively pursuing E-Rate reform. Video is below. Closed captions are available.
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