Laura Savage, librarian at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Perkinston Campus, was one of only 24 individuals from the U.S. and Canada selected to participate in the third cohort of the Library Freedom Institute (LFI). Created by New York University and Library Freedom Project, LFI is a free, privacy-focused four-month program for librarians to teach them the skills necessary to thrive as Privacy Advocates, from educating community members to influencing public policy.

Savage, from McHenry, has worked at Gulf Coast for four years.  She applied to LFI by submitting an essay on the ways she planned to share what she learned during the institute with her community.  

“The goal is to learn new methods to protect library users’ digital privacy by adapting library practices, creating programming and understanding the threats to user data,” Savage said.  “We have been attending online training since earlier this month, and it will continue every week for the next four months.”

Savage said current events have changed plans for training. “Due to the pandemic, we will not be meeting in person for a weekend, as planned, or at least it will be delayed.  Also, our final project has changed to our collectively creating a response project to COVID-19.  Despite the changes, I’m excited about the ideas we have been learning and will learn during the institute.”