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LFI

Last edited by Alexander Færøy

Library Freedom Project (for context)

  • How I began
  • Why I work with librarians: ethics and practice
  • Activities: libraryfreedomproject.org
  • Partnerships
  • Victories (search "library tor relay")
  • Funding
  • Relationship to Tor Project

Library Freedom Institute

The Library Freedom Institute (LFI) is a privacy-focused six-month program for librarians to teach them the skills necessary to thrive as Privacy Advocates, from installing privacy software to influencing public policy.

== Library Freedom Institute Meeting in CDMX - LFI Updates!!

=== A bit of context/background:

  • in 2014, LFP was started
    • working as a librarian... Snowden stuff happened.... BLM started getting bigger in US - rethinking surveillance & privacy: who it's impacting
    • hearing from ppl in the community who were interested in surveillance resistance
    • started as classes about Tor, free software, basic digital security (passwords etc)

==== Why do this work in Libraries? - Librarians have historical care for privacy - Libraries are the only place where you can get free computer help - computer classes are offered to ppl who have no access otherwise - lots of overlap here w/ groups that are already affected by surveillance

- connected w/ ACLU
	- they covered policy
- built travelling roadshow for librarians
- making tails drives for ppl and letting them test them in the library	
- applied for funding from the Night foundation - $250k !!!! tears
- involvement w/ Tor started around the same time - 2015 ish
	- Tor was based in Massachusetts at the time
- workshops in english speaking countries (but also some other langs) - US, Canada, + more

- 2015 - big victory! 	
	- teaching people how to run Relays in Libraries - got a library to run an exit relay - feds asked them to shut it down. Ended up getting lots of media attention (plus protection/help from the EFF & ACLU)
- the privacy conversation in libraries in US has changed - now people are talking about Tor!!!
- (side note: potential Tor booth at the American Library Association meeting?)

However, it's not scaleable for one person to do these trainings all over - another grant !!! $250k from IMLS - PLUS another $200k - (if you think you'll never get money for something, give it a try! you can write grants, too)

So, the idea for the LFI was to scale the LFP === Current format of LFI: - 6 month training program restricted to librarians in the US (only restricted b/c of funding) - primarily online - 13 librarians so far - 80% female, 35% people of color - partnership w/ NYU

=== Overall themes of the LFI: - threat modelling - harm-reduction - no possible way to address all aspects of a threat model... so how can we reduce the harm? - using user personas - completely free - anti-surveillance - normalizing privacy & security - making it normal and fine for the average person (learning about Tor from your librarian has a normalizing effect!!)

Problem: The first contact problem - if someone wants to leak documents to a journalist - that first contact is dangerous!! If your first contact is not safe/not encrypted, then you might be in trouble. Having Tor on library computers can help to solve this problem

Q: are we training these people to go out and train others? A: Yes! Training them as privacy advocates - they can choose their focus within the privacy/advocacy umbrella - These librarians know their community better than we can. So they can make a curriculum/plan that best suits their community

Q: Are we targeting libraries of a certain size? A: No - we're focusing on interesting geographic mix, gender & race diversity. Types of libraries are Public Libraries and Community College Libraries, b/c they tend to serve the communities we want to reach, and they don't have a lot of access to professional development opportunities

=== Schedule (https://github.com/alisonLFP/libraryfreedominstitute/blob/master/coursedocs/LFI%20weekly%20schedule.pdf): Each week: readings, discussion, assignments Assignments: Figure out some way to bring this topic to your library! not mandatory every week - every third assignment is mandatory) In-person weekend has been good opportunity to go over Tor & Tails, since we can go more in-depth - pedagogy of the oppressed Some of the things we're trying to teach: - it's not just about privacy - you're gonna be an advocate in the community! You'll need to know how to talk to the press

This is also a really good usability research opportunity! Large and diverse audience

=== Future plans: - 3 more rounds, with 25 participants each - end deliverable: 80 librarians trained around the US - IMLS requires people to be trained in the USA - future funding, and how to get this in countries other than the US!

=== Feedback: S1: This is amazing!!

S2: Amazing - also, goals are so in line with Tor
	- Funding - people will jump at this! Can be scaled really easily, and the effects will trickle down throuhg the community

A: Localization!! Figure out what country or region would be best, then find someone like me there, do knowledge transfer, and then fund THEM to do the work

S2: As it scales, it's gonna be a full-time job plus some

S3: Is this related to Toronto Public Library?
	A: It is! I did a training for staff in TO, plus a public event. Talked to admin about making a plan - they were already interested in the Tor relay project, but not sure if they could get buy-in - so what about Tor Browser? Then local Tor member took over from there - more talks, and the official pilot has begun!

S3: I work out of libraries in TO so I hope it's there! Might be moving to another city - so what would be the first step to approach a librarian about this?
	A: Go there, offer to help them with an easier-ask entry point - say I'm a privacy person, I know there's a lot of interest in these skills - I'd be willing to teach a free class to the public. Build a survey into the class - would you like your library to install these tools right on their own computers? Then show librarians and ask them if they're interested in next steps 

S4: plus, Toronto is a great success story to point to, now!

S2: How about the Philidelphia Free Library? Their principles are really in line

A: That's the thing - privacy is one of the core values of librarians! So, put action behind your words & 

S4: Do you ever sell it as a big draw, now that ebooks are bigger? 
	A: People are actually using libraries more now, especially in the US after the financial collapse - many people lost access to social services, and the Library coallesced as a place to get these resources - free place to stay, services for immigrants, english classes, etc. BUT, it is also true that libraries are always looking for some flashy thing to get funding - getting people in the library is not as big of a problem as the loss of funding. We've also done a whole unit on the privacy risks of ebooks - that your reading info is communicated back to the vendor (Amazon, Adobe, etc)

S2: So, how can we help to scale this? Help grant-writing? 
	A: Steps: thinking about funding - currently funded through the end of 2020, but after that, it could go in a different direction - localizing current state, find local people to help... also, internationally, it might not be libraries! Is there a better place elsewhere to center the LFI out of? Factfinding needs to happen 

A: Enamel pins! If you want one, I will send you one

E: Have you worked with any university libraries?
	A: As LFP, we did - but as LFI, we've been focusing on libraries with less resources, who serve communities who can be benefitted more.

G: In Columbia, some ppl asked about LFI - so what do we tell them right now?
	A: Are they librarians, tech ppl, ??
G: One person - a student
	A: Put them in touch! I did have one person from Columbia apply to the last LFI, but couldn't say yes b/c of funding restrictions.... but if there are more ppl, maybe it could happen. Also, feedback from international folks would be great, to diversify the curriculum and make it more applicable

S2: Does this stuff all have to be funded by current funding, or can Tor help? 
	A: Current funding is only to run LFI 4 times - everything else is just stuff I do on my own

A2: If there's external funding to give someone a scholarship, could you incorporate them into the curriculum?
	A: They would need to be able to travel to the US for one weekend. Since the LFI is free, I just need someone else that they work with to keep them accountable - a mentor, someone to make sure they complete the program. Also, ideally, I would like their institution to give them time at work to do the LFI course. Would be better than them having to do it at home.

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