We’ll begin the day with brief presentations of ideas for sessions. If you would like to submit a pitch for a session at the gathering in Brighton, please submit your idea via the comments field below.
Sessions such as zine-making session and digital privacy (see this post on the RLC SE cryptoparty) are being planned, and session topics at previous gatherings have included feminism, critical theory, radical studies and LGBTQ libraries.
Topic: Modelling the ethics of the profession through our commercial choices in our libraries.
Is it lack of skills, confidence, empowerment , something else that keeps us from making bold decisions to make information as a resource flow freer? Specifically, why do we use so much inadequate, expensive proprietary software when Open Source alternatives exist or can be built? Why do we publish in and support commercial publishers when Open Access is an alternative?
While we are caught up in old systems and cannot change immediately, why are we not devoting much more time to making newer alternatives to migrate to?
I would see this as a facilitated group chat, but rather than spending it throwing stones at people who keep spending $$ perpetuating this stuff, I would like to really find some points of understanding that I can use when discussing these issues with people who need to make the changes.
[Update 1 July 2016: text amended at request of original author to be in line with safer spaces policy]
Privacy lab / session on digital rights
Perhaps not a full cryptoparty, that will depend on numbers / laptops / time, but at least a discussion about available tools and best practice. I’m not expert but I know some stuff. Ideally, we’ll all share what we know and all learn some new things.
I’d like to propose a similar session to one that took place in London in 2014, basically “What can we actually do?” – a discussion where we can share ideas on what practical actions we can take (to make the world a better place…).
sounds good! if this is about what we can do collectively, would it be good to have a separate session on how to take actions as individuals within (or outwith) the workplace? or could that be part of the same session?
I imagined discussing both collectively and individually, so it could be part of the same session
What you want from a professional body
Given I’m doing the closing keynote at the CILIP conference on 13th July, I thought I might take advantage of having People With Views to bounce some thoughts around about what you want to see from a body for library and information professionals. No holds barred, I’m a member, but not someone in any kind of position of power there.
I briefly pitched this in an email thread before and got some positive responses, but for the sake of neatness will do it again here:
It was mentioned in a UK & Ireland zine librarians mailing list that July is international zine month (and July 21st is zine day). I’d like to pitch the idea of collaboratively putting together a zine to commemorate the day and document some of what was discussed or done on the day (we needn’t identify any in attendance of course, per Chatham House). This could take the shape of a discrete session, or we could work on contributions throughout the day as individuals and collate the results into a single zine near the end – to be published after the fact and posted to interested parties, or on the day if facilities and time allows.
I’m coming from abroad, so can’t really bring stuff like glue or scissors with me, but I’ll do my best to bring other kinds of materials (collage scraps, pens and pencils, paper) and would suggest others do too!
I can help with glue/scissors/paper etc if we want to do this? I like the idea of a collab zine where people contribute a page or so as they work well for these events in my previous experience.
I also want to do this and can also bring collage scraps, glue & scissors!
Can we use the morning for a whole-group discussion of what RLC is, its aims, objectives, methods to use etc.?
Cheers, KJSx
Yes please!
This might tie in with “What can we actually do” as well as “what RLC is and methods to use” but:
Making RLC more accessible. Whether there are things we can do that maximise meeting attendance. Addressing the fact that there are people who want to come to RLC meetings but are intimidated by venue, current members, or what they see on radlibchat. Making the theory more accessible. Being clearer about how theory is relevant to our own practice.
Yes that sounds great.
I would like to contribute a session on disrupting the uneven power relations between libraries and library technology vendors. This session would present practical means and tools for disrupting commonly-used library technology: exploiting admin passwords and control codes; manipulating RFID tags; using and accessing SciHub; exploring library system weaknesses for greater control.
I’d like to propose a session on web filtering and censorship in libraries. This ties in to some research into web filtering in public libraries (https://figshare.com/articles/Content_filtering_in_UK_public_libraries/2059998, & http://www.cilip.org.uk/blog/new-research-maps-extent-web-filtering-public-libraries) and we can also talk about libraries’ role in censorship more broadly. A representative from Open Rights Group will be attending.