Readers First schedules June 11 webinar

Readers First said on June 1 that it will hold a free webinar on June 11 at 1 p.m. Eastern focused on how libraries and advocacy groups preserve data tied to book challenges and bans. The event, titled “Data vs. Censorship: How Critical Data to Protect Intellectual Freedom is Being Preserved,” is part of the Digital Shelf Publishing & Library Forum, according to the nonprofit’s announcement. Readers First said the session is aimed at librarians, advocates and others tracking censorship disputes as challenges continue across the United States. The group said the webinar will cover datasets, reporting systems and documentation projects designed to keep records “accurately preserved and safely accessible.” ### What exactly is Readers First putting on June 11? The June 11 event is a webinar organized under the Digital Shelf Publishing & Library Forum, a series that Readers First said it runs with Lyrasis and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies. Readers First described the forum in a November 2025 post as a venue for discussion among libraries, publishers and others in the book industry on issues including censorship, AI in libraries and equitable access. (readersfirst.org) The June session is scheduled to run at 1 p.m. Eastern and is free to attend, according to the June 1 notice. Readers First describes itself as an organization of nearly 300 libraries representing 200 million readers and focused on access to free and easy-to-use ebook content through public libraries. On its website, the group says its broader mission is to improve ebook access and services for library users. ### Which projects and speakers are part of the webinar? Readers First said the webinar will include the Banned Book Index Project, which it described as a collaborative initiative using Wikidata to build an open dataset of every book ban in the United States. (readersfirst.org) The group also said the American Library Association will provide an update on its tracking efforts and defense resources. (readersfirst.org) Independent researcher Dr. Tasslyn Magnusson will discuss documentation work she is doing on behalf of PEN America and EveryLibrary, according to the announcement. Readers First also said the session will include Banned Index, which it described as a new AI-driven index tracking censorship trends. ### Why is the webinar centered on data rather than only policy or advocacy? (readersfirst.org) Readers First said in its June 1 announcement that “data has become a critical tool for libraries fighting to protect intellectual freedom” as book challenges continue to rise. The group said the webinar will provide an overview of projects meant to preserve information on book challenges and bans and make that information accessible to libraries and the public. (readersfirst.org) The listed takeaways are practical. Readers First said attendees will learn how to navigate digital tracking resources, submit new data, report local challenges and use those tools to defend intellectual freedom in their own communities. The event will conclude with a panel discussion on book banning and the role data plays in preserving access, the nonprofit said. (readersfirst.org) ### What else will attendees hear about beyond tracking systems? Readers First said the webinar will also spotlight The Banned Book Club and Books Unbanned. The organization described those programs as efforts that help keep digital books available to readers by bypassing local restrictions. A July 2025 Readers First post promoting a separate Bibliotheca webinar on book challenges used similar language about giving librarians practical tools, staff resources and community support strategies. (readersfirst.org) That earlier post also referenced Tasslyn Magnusson and EveryLibrary participants, showing overlap between the June 11 event and other recent programming around intellectual freedom. ### Where can people register and what happens next? Readers First said registration for the June 11 webinar is available through its website announcement. The June 1 post says the session begins at 1 p.m. Eastern, and attendees will hear from representatives of the featured projects before a panel discussion on censorship challenges and access preservation. (readersfirst.org) The next scheduled step is the webinar itself on June 11. Readers First said the event is free and open to participants interested in the data, records and digital systems used to document book challenges and bans. (readersfirst.org)