Libraries Are Illegal
January 1, 2036: Libraries are gone.
Funding eliminated. Campuses silent. Communities stripped bare. The future of knowledge teeters on the edge.
Fight for the right to learn.
Rewrite the Narrative
Libraries Are Illegal is an immersive experience exploring the decade that erased libraries (2026-2036) and The Underground movement fighting back.
Format: Interactive strategic thinking lab
Time: 3-hours + networking
Size: Accommodates 40-100 participants
Features: Over 100 unique artifacts
Join The Underground
Calling all library leaders, unconventional thinkers, conscientious objectors, and misfits.
This is not just a thought experiment. It’s a strategic simulation to explore what happens when access to knowledge is criminalized—and how we resist.
Scan the environment for threats and opportunities.
Envision new pathways for intellectual freedom
Stretch your capacity for radical strategic thinking
Step into a dystopian future.
Emerge with renewed hope.
Follow the Leaders
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Marisol Vega
COORDINATOR
Marisol stewards the resistance’s decentralized map of archives, safe houses, and operatives. She transforms chaos into strategy.
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Ari Calder
CONVENOR
Ari organizes the movement’s gatherings, ensuring the resistance stays connected, inspired, and informed—without leaving a trace.
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Juno Reyes
COMMUNICATOR
Juno is the movement’s primary voice. They transform banned texts into art, turning resistance into a living language through analog zines.
Take Back the Signal
“Libraries are anarchic relics. They enable disinformation and social unrest. Unregulated knowledge is chaos. We bring order. We bring safety.”
~ Virella Kaine
Administrator, Ministry of Information Control
“Erase the stacks, license the data—MIC thinks that kills curiosity. It doesn’t. It just makes curiosity expensive. Libraries just weren’t smart enough to profit like me.”
~ Cipher
Anonymous Data Broker, The Knowledge Syndicate
“Librarians? Just a bunch of bunheads and bookworms. We upgraded the library experience. Leave the mess behind. Subscribe to clarity. ”
~ Dominic Stroud
Chief Content Officer, Unicorn LLC
Share the Story
When knowledge is a crime, sharing is an act of rebellion.
Connect with trusted colleagues.
Get them to join the movement.
Follow the worm.
Frequently Asked Questions
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You will “join the resistance” and step into a decentralized movement working to preserve and share knowledge. This experience combines storytelling with collaboration, inviting you to design strategies for resilience, access, and advocacy.
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You will work in small groups to examine artifacts from the future, map the environment, and identify ways to keep the mission of libraries alive.
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The program is designed as a speculative, immersive simulation, not a prediction. While fictional, the scenario mirrors real-world issues such as censorship, funding cuts, and restricted access to information. By exaggerating these pressures, Libraries Are Illegal encourages participants to reflect on current risks and find radical ways to defend intellectual freedom and equitable access.
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Libraries Are Illegal began as a conversation between Rebecca Jones and M.J. D’Elia. The resulting workshop was first offered at the OLA SuperConference in January 2026. After a successful pilot, Libraries Are Illegal is now delivered as part of conferences, regional networking events, and staff development days.
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If you have questions about Libraries Are Illegal, or want to inquire about bringing this event to your region, connect with M.J. D’Elia via email (mj@thirdwaythink.com), connect on LinkedIn, visit Thirdway Think, or book a video call directly.
Our Allies
Premier leadership development for the library and information sector.
Unmistakable human-first learning experiences for leaders and their teams.
Libraries Are Illegal was created by Thirdway Think alongside a team of incredible collaborators. We craft unforgettable, immersive, and thought-provoking learning experiences, helping people solve problems and learn together.
