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.
Date: January 28, 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm ET
Event: OLA SuperConference 2026
Format: Pre-conference workshop
Location: Toronto, Canada
Link: Get notified when registration opens
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 designed to challenge assumptions, ignite inventive thinking, and 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 Kane
Supreme 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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Registration for this event will be available via the OLA Super Conference website. Spots are limited. The best way to learn more, and get notified when registration opens, is to join the resistance and the Declare Your Interest.
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This pre-conference session at is a proof-of-concept. Future offerings will depend on the success of the event and the overall learner experience. Special thanks to the fine people organizing the Ontario Library Association Super Conference for giving this a shot (I see you Emily & Michelle).
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If you have questions about this event, connect with M.J. D’Elia via email (mj@thirdwaythink.com), connect on LinkedIn, visit Thirdway Think, or book a video call directly.
Allies Who Stand With Us
Premier leadership development for the library and information sector.
Empowering members through education, advocacy, partnerships and research.
Unmistakable human-first learning experiences for leaders and their teams.
Declare Your Interest
Libraries will Survive.
Join the Resistance. Get regular updates.
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.
