Library Futures Events

Library Futures holds regular webinars, community calls, and in-person social events. Please join us in-person or online!

Featured Event

September 23, 2026

Video Games in Libraries

Rose Behar, Chris Baker, Colin Post, and Marisa Marzilli will discuss emerging issues in video games in libraries.

Event details →

Upcoming Events

Video Games in Libraries / Wednesday, September 23 | 1 PM ET/10 AM PT with Rose Behar, Chris Baker, Colin Post, and Marisa Marzilli / Black woman with headphones. Above her head float graphics of a mortarboard on a globe, a pair of headphones, a book, and cloud storage / Digital Games in Libraries, National Games and Libraries Project, and Library Futures logos
September 23, 2026
Video Games in Libraries
Webinar

Rose Behar, Chris Baker, Colin Post, and Marisa Marzilli will discuss emerging issues in video games in libraries.

Stronger Together: Library-Local News Collaborations: Strengthening Community Connection and Civic Participation / Thursday, October 1, 1 pm ET/10 am PT / hands holding smartphone with news and a library card / Library Futures
October 01, 2026
Library-Local News Collaborations: Strengthening Community Connection and Civic Participation
Webinar

A webinar for anyone curious about how libraries fit into their community’s local news and civic media ecosystem.

How to Talk to a Reporter Thursday, November 5, i pm ET/10 am PT / skeptical looking cartoon dog reporter with hat, notepad, trench coat, and press badge / Library Futures logo
November 05, 2026
How to Talk to a Reporter
Webinar

Hear from librarians, journalists, and library communications experts to learn from their experiences in the media (and see our new game!)

Past Events

How to Talk to a Reporter Thursday, November 5, i pm ET/10 am PT / skeptical looking cartoon dog reporter with hat, notepad, trench coat, and press badge / Library Futures logo
November 05, 2026
How to Talk to a Reporter
Webinar

Hear from librarians, journalists, and library communications experts to learn from their experiences in the media (and see our new game!)

Stronger Together: Library-Local News Collaborations: Strengthening Community Connection and Civic Participation / Thursday, October 1, 1 pm ET/10 am PT / hands holding smartphone with news and a library card / Library Futures
October 01, 2026
Library-Local News Collaborations: Strengthening Community Connection and Civic Participation
Webinar

A webinar for anyone curious about how libraries fit into their community’s local news and civic media ecosystem.

Video Games in Libraries / Wednesday, September 23 | 1 PM ET/10 AM PT with Rose Behar, Chris Baker, Colin Post, and Marisa Marzilli / Black woman with headphones. Above her head float graphics of a mortarboard on a globe, a pair of headphones, a book, and cloud storage / Digital Games in Libraries, National Games and Libraries Project, and Library Futures logos
September 23, 2026
Video Games in Libraries
Webinar

Rose Behar, Chris Baker, Colin Post, and Marisa Marzilli will discuss emerging issues in video games in libraries.

Tools for Intellectual Freedom Training: An Intellectual Freedom Adventure / Library Futures logo / librarian cat
August 17, 2026
Tools for Intellectual Freedom Training
Webinar

Library Futures staff and former ALA President Sam Helmick share tools for helping library staff handle intellectual freedom challenges.

Imagine IF: The Game / Library Futures / An Intellectual Freedom Adventure / librarian cat being chased by horde of angry animal patrons
June 27, 2026
Imagine IF: An Intellectual Freedom Adventure Poster Session
Conference

Learn all about Imagine IF: An Intellectual Freedom Adventure!

Radical Book Buzz with Library Freedom Project and Library Futures
Friday, June 26 6:30-9 pm
1531 W. 18th Street, Chicago, IL 60608

An evening for library workers and independent publishers to hang out together! Library workers, join us at Pilsen for an evening with radical publishers! We’ll hear about new releases, chat about libraries and the publishing ecosystem, and party together. Featuring Haymarket, Seven Stories, Akashic, The New Press, One Signal, Scribe, Feminist Press, and others!

Drinks and snacks will be provided!
June 26, 2026
Radical Book Buzz at Pilsen
Social Event

Join Library Futures and Library Freedom Project for an evening of mingling with librarians and independent publishers!

Ebook Friday ALA 2026 Friday, June 26 McCormick Place W190 / Library Futures with Readers First, Urban Libraries Council, ALA Office for Public Policy & Advocacy, ALA eBook Interest Group, and practitioners from from around the country
June 26, 2026
Ebook Friday at ALA
Conference

Join Library Futures and friends for an update on the ebook landscape in 2026!

Library Futures Presents The House Archives Built and Other Thoughts on Black Archival Possiblities / book cover with black and white photos / Dorothy Berry in conversation with Zakiya Collier / headshots of two Black women / Wednesday, June 3 1 pm ET 10 AM PT.
June 03, 2026
The House Archives Built Book Talk
Webinar

A conversation with Dorothy Judith Berry, author of The House Archives Built, and archivist and memory worker Zakiya Collier.

You're invited! Dead Letter no. 9, 63 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY 12249 Library Futures Happy Hour April 22 6:30-8 pm
April 22, 2026
Library Futures Community Happy Hour
Social Event

Schmooze, drink, and hang with the Library Futures community at Dead Letter no. 9!

How to Read a Contract (Part 2) with Library Futures Staff Attorney Layla Maurer April 7, 1 pm ET/10 am PT / mobsters holding a contract in front of a suspicious librarian
April 07, 2026
How to Read a Contract Part 2 (Confidentiality Edition)
Webinar

What can you say? What can’t you say? Library Futures Staff Attorney Layla Maurer will tell all about confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements.

Imagine IF: The Game / Library Futures / An Intellectual Freedom Adventure / librarian cat being chased by horde of angry animal patrons
April 03, 2026
Imagine IF: A Game-Based Introduction to Intellectual Freedom
Conference

Michelle Reed and Sam Helmick introduce Imagine IF: The Game. Play the librarian cat and learn to handle intellectual freedom challenges!

IndieLib Forum for independent publishers & librarians / Independent Publishers Caucus / DPLA
March 31, 2026
IndieLib Forum
Conference

Join your fellow librarians and independent publishers in this yearly event cosponsored by Library Futures!

Library Futures Intern Showcase, Wednesday, February 25, 1 pm ET / 10 am PT
February 25, 2026
Library Futures Intern Showcase

Join us as Library Futures interns Thomas Alexander, Théodora Dillman, Thomas Gagnon-van Leeuwen, and Siena Oristaglio discuss their work.

Platform Power and Libraries / Join us for a book talk with editor Christine F. Smith and contributors Elena Rowan and lisa Hooper / Tuesday, December 16, 1 pm ET/10 am PT / Library Futures logo
December 16, 2025
Platform Power and Libraries Book Talk
Webinar

Explore the overlooked and underexplored power that platforms can hold in libraries with our expert panel!

Information Literacy in the Age of GenAI, Thursday, December 11, 1 pm ET/10 am PT / Library Futures logo
December 11, 2025
Information Literacy in the Age of GenAI
Webinar

What happens when generative AI enters the spaces where students research, learn, and work?

people reading under a tree made from 1s and 0s
December 09, 2025
The Digital Shelf Publishing & Library Forum: Ebook Advocacy Action Round Up
Webinar

Hear from leading organizations advocating for better library access to digital content including our own Director of Programs Michelle Reed.

Made in the Library: Creativity, Copyright, and Community, Wednesday, December 3 1 pm ET/10 am PT / Library Futures logo / people engaged in library making surrounded by tree branches
December 03, 2025
Made in the Library: Creativity, Copyright, and Community
Webinar

Join Library Futures for a dynamic discussion on navigating evolving issues in library makerspaces.

Resisting the Vendor Machine: Contracts, Corporations, and Libraries Thursday, November 20 | 1 pm ET/10 am PT Library Futures logo
November 20, 2025
Resisting the Vendor Machine: Contracts, Corporations, and Libraries
Webinar

When it comes to vendor contracts and AI, who has the power? And how can we take it back?

Legal and Ethical Issues in AI Thursday, October 30 1 pm ET/10 am PT, Library Futures logo
October 30, 2025
Legal and Ethical Issues in AI
Webinar

Join Meredith Broussard and Nick Garcia to learn about the legal and ethical implications of AI in libraries.

What We Talk About When We Talk About AI Thursday, September 25, 1 pm ET/10 am PT Library Futures logo
September 25, 2025
What We Talk About When We Talk About AI
Webinar

What is machine learning? How does it work? And what do large language models mean for libraries and the patrons we serve?

Beyond the Book: Digital Censorship in U.S. Libraries / empty searchbox / Library Futures logo
September 20, 2025
Beyond the Book: Digital Censorship in U.S. Libraries
Conference

Information and updates about digital content suppression--the often overlooked cousin of book bans and challenges.

Image IF the Game / Library Futures logo / An Intellectual Freedom Adventure / suspicious looking cat
September 18, 2025
Imagine IF: A Game-Based Introduction to Intellectual Freedom
Conference

Explore key issues and real-life intellectual freedom scenarios in this interactive game!

people reading books under a tree
June 29, 2025
Thinking Together: New Resources from a Community of Practice
Conference

Our inaugural research network shows how “thinking together” is a critical component of building communities of practice.

MIX 'N MINGLE AT ALA! Sunday, June 29 from 6-8 p.m. Love City Brewing / Tree growing from a laptop. In its branches are an old white woman with hearing aids and a tablet, a woman in a headscarf reading to two children, a Black person wearing headphones, and a person working at a computer / Library Freedom Project and Library Futures logos
June 29, 2025
Mix 'n Mingle at ALA
Social Event

Join Library Futures and Library Freedom Project on Sunday, June 29 from 6-8 p.m for a cute little networking and social event.

Coffee Talk at the Copyright Booth with Library Futures and Special Guests TBA 1-3 pm daily
June 28, 2025
Coffee Talk at the Copyright Booth
Social Event

Hang out with us at the Copyright Booth at ALA on June 28 and 29! We'll have coffee! We'll talk! We'll have surprise special guests!

GOVERNING MISINFORMATION BOOK TALK / Dr. Madelyn Rose Sanfilippo University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign / Dr. Melissa Ocepek University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign / Allison Jennings-Roche University of Baltimore Robert L. Bogomolny Library / Wednesday, May 28, 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT / Library Futures logo
May 28, 2025
Governing Misinformation Book Talk
Webinar

A book talk with the editors of Governing Misinformation about truth and trust in our everyday lives.

Bridging the Gap: Accessibility and Digital Collections for All Patrons / 
Stephanie Anderson, New York Public Library, 
Donna Mack, Disability Diplomat, 
Luis Pérez, CAST, 				
Teresa Schultz, University of Nevada, Reno, 
Moriah-Taylor Rutherford, Library Futures / 
Wednesday, April 23, 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT /
Tree growing from a laptop. In its branches are an old white woman with hearing aids and a tablet, a woman in a headscarf reading to two children, a Black person wearing headphones, and a person working at a computer.
April 24, 2025
Bridging the Gap Webinar
Webinar

A webinar covering best practices for digital accessibility and what libraries should expect from vendors to ensure inclusive user experiences.

Necromancers of the Public Domain / February 12 Caveat NYC / An Hour with the Movies and the Talkies / Library Futures, Engelberg Center, and Theatre of the Apes logos
February 12, 2025
Necromancers of the Public Domain: An Hour with the Movies and the Talkies
Social Event

The annual Public Domain Day celebration with work raised from the dead and presented for your delectation.

Unpacking Digital Censorship in School and Public Libraries / search bar / Jim Duncan | Colorado Library Consortium
Lindsey Kimery | Tennessee Association of School Librarians Emily Knox | UIUC School of Information Sciences Sarah Lamdan | ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom Michelle Reed | Library Futures / Wednesday, February 5 1 PM ET/10 AM PT / Library Futures logo
February 05, 2025
Unpacking Digital Censorship in Schools and Libraries
Webinar

Explore the past, present and future of digital censorship and intellectual freedom with our panel of experts.

FEMINIST CYBERLAW BOOK TALK / Feminist Cyberlaw book cover / Amanda Levendowski, Yasmin Sokkar Harker headshots and titles / Library Futures logo
January 29, 2025
Library Futures Feminist Cyberlaw Book Talk
Webinar

How do gender, race, sexuality, disability, class, and the intersections of these identities affect cyberspace and the laws that govern it?

A Library Futures Book Talk with Shamichael Hallman, author of Meet Me at the Library; Sierra Sangetti Daniels from News Futures, and Jennie Garner, North Liberty Public Library / Wednesday, December 4 1 PM ET/10 AM PT / Library Futures and News Futures logos / book cover for Meet Me at the Library showing people walking into a door made from an open book.
December 12, 2024
Meet Me at the Library Book Talk with News Futures
Webinar

How do we create spaces for people to come together? Our book talk examines how libraries can help.

Campus Protests in the US: A History. Campus protests are not a new phenomenon. What can we learn from protests of the past, and how do they set the state for the protests of today? Join our panel of historians as we explore the often misrepresented history of student movements. Tents saying Library Futures and Library Freedom Project. People Holding signs saying Free Speech Summer and Panel.
June 28, 2024
Campus Protests in the United States: A History
Webinar

A panel of historians and experts explore the often misrepresented history of student movements.

How to Read a Contract! / Scarlet Galvan, Grand Valley State University Libraries/ONEAL; Katharine Macy, ONEAL; Sandra Aya Enimil, Yale University. Tablet with a library bookshelf coming from it. Library Futures, Authors Alliance, and SPARC logos.
March 13, 2024
How to Read a Contract
Webinar

Our most popular ever (and evergreen webinar) on reading contracts with a fine-toothed comb and getting the best deal for your library and patrons.

New Projects in Controlled Digital Lending / Dec 5, 2023 01:00 PM Eastern / Library Futures / Internet Archive / people approaching a library
December 04, 2023
New Projects in CDL
Webinar

An overview of what different organizations are doing with Controlled Digital Lending in 2023.

video game style graphic reading Unacceptable Loss: Video Game Preservation in Libraries and Archives / Choose your player/ avatars of Laine Mooney, Phil Salvador, and Meredith Rose / September 26, 1-2:15 PM ET / Library Futures and Software Preservation Network logos
September 27, 2023
Unacceptable Loss: Video Game Preservation in Libraries and Archives
Webinar

Only 13 percent of classic video games published in the United States are currently in release. How and why should video game history be saved?

What is a Library Under the Law? / Kyle Courtney, Harvard University/Library Futures; Dick Kawooya, PhD., University of South Carolina; Tucker Taylor, Journal of Copyright in Librarianship and Education/Library Futures / People reading under a tree / Library Futures logo
March 28, 2023
What Is A Library Under the Law (and Why Does it Matter?)
Webinar

The “law of libraries” creates both opportunities and limitations related to the libraries’ core mission. Learn more from our panel of experts!

COPYRIGHT AND FAIR USE FOR LIBRARIANS / libraryfutures.net/ bust with blocks of color and text coming from one ear.
February 23, 2023
Copyright and Fair Use for Libraries
Webinar

Why does copyright and fair use matter for libraries and librarians? A four part series with answers from lawyers and librarians.

Chokepoint Capitalism + Data Cartels / headshots of four people / November 17 / 1PM ET / Library Futures Engelberg Center on Innovation Law and Policy NYU School of Law
November 17, 2022
Chokepoint Capitalism and Data Cartels w/Library Futures
Webinar

Join Library Futures for a book talk with Cory Doctorow, Rebecca Giblin, and Sarah Lambdan!

people reading under a tree made from 1s and 0s
November 14, 2022
Library Futures Fellows Presentations
Webinar

Our inaugural fellows discuss their community and policy work!

Mitigating the Library eBook Conundrum / Kyle Courtney, Harvard University Library/Library Futures; Dave Hansen, Authors Alliance; Juliya Ziskina, Library Futures; moderated by Emily Finch, Library Futures. People reading under a tree. Library Futures and Authors Alliance logos.
September 08, 2022
Mitigating the Library Ebook Conundrum
Webinar

How do we solve the problem that is library ebooks? Our speakers discuss state-level legislation that can help.

The GLAM Fam! Transformative Use and Creativity in Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums, Part 2 / Thursday, September 1 , 11-12 PM ET / George Oates, Flickr Foundation, Brigitte Vezina, Creative Commons, Douglas McCarthy, Europeana, Moderated by Pia Hunter, University of Illinois / Library Futures
September 01, 2022
The GLAM Fam! Transformative Use and Creativity in Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums
Webinar

GLAM institutions rely on transformative use to curate, preserve, and display creative works. What does the future hold for them?

Fandoms, Fan Fic, and Fair Use: Transformative Use For Creators, Part 1 / Rebecca Tushnet, Harvard University; Betsy Rosenblatt, University of Tulsa; Juliya Ziskina and Emily Finch, Library Futures; moderated by Raven Lanier, University of Michigan
August 17, 2022
Fandoms, Fan Fiction, and Fair Use: Transformative Use For Creators, Part 1
Webinar

How does fandom intersect with fair use? How do we think about fandom, fanfic, and copyright in the world of Warhol v. Goldsmith?

The Promise of Access / Daniel Greene, Emily Drabinski, Emily Dowie / people approaching a library from the country and the city / Library Futures and CUNY Graduate Center logos
March 09, 2022
Promise of Access Book Talk
Webinar

A discussion of how technological solutions can help public institutions but often at the cost of alienating the populations they serve.

Library Privacy: Past, Present, Future / Alison Macrina, Library Freedom Project; George Christian, Library Connection; Sarah Lamdan, CUNY School of Law / Cabin with book exploding from it in front of a mountain / Library Futures logo
January 18, 2022
Library Privacy: Past, Present, Future
Webinar

What role do libraries play in supporting privacy for the public, and how should we build communities to fight against a surveillance society?

Why Trust a Corporation to Do a Library's Job? A conversation with Lurking author Joanne McNeil and artist/technologist Darius Kazemi / Wed, April 28 1-2 pm EDT / How a Person Became a User Book Cover/ headshots of two people / Internet Archive and Library Futures
April 28, 2021
Why Trust A Corporation To Do A Library’s Job?
Webinar

A discussion between Joanne McNeil, author of Lurking: How a Person Became a User, and technologist/artist Darius Kazemi.

people reading under a tree made from 1s and 0s
February 22, 2021
The End of Ownership
Webinar

A special discussion of The End of Ownership for Fair Use Week 2021!