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X-WR-CALNAME:Freedom to Read in Virtual Reality
X-WR-TIMEZONE:Pacific Time (US & Canada)
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DTSTAMP:20260811T085623Z
UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_50722411495845
DTSTART:20251006T190000Z
DTEND:20251006T200000Z
DESCRIPTION:We invite you to join us in our immersive VR space for the Free
 dom to Read Rally (framevr.io/freedom-to-read)\, a virtual demonstration a
 nd gathering in support of intellectual freedom. The event will feature Be
 tsy Gomez of Unite Against Book Bans (UABB)\, Nick Higgins\, Chief Librari
 an of the Brooklyn Public Library\, and Tom Fay\, Chief Librarian of the S
 eattle Public Library\, representing Books Unbanned. They will be joined b
 y Dr. Anthony Chow\, Director of the San José State University School of 
 Information\, and John MacLeod\, Director of XR Libraries\, who will help 
 lead the rally and discussion. Together\, these leaders will deliver brief
  talks on the urgent state of book banning today\, its projected impact on
  communities and libraries\, and strategies for resistance\, followed by y
 outh from around the country sharing how they’ve been fighting banned bo
 oks in their own communities. The rally will conclude with an open discuss
 ion\, giving participants an opportunity to reflect\, share\, and stand un
 ited in affirming the fundamental freedom to read.\n\nPresenters:\n\n\n\nA
 nthony S. Chow\, PhD\, is Director and Professor of the School of Informat
 ion at San José State University\, where he leads programs in library and
  information science\, archives\, records\, and data\, as well as initiati
 ves in digital literacy\, human-centered AI\, and XR technologies. An awar
 d-winning scholar and leader\, Dr. Chow currently serves as President-Elec
 t of the California Library Association and Vice-President/President-Elect
  of the Chinese American Library Association. His research and projects fo
 cus on equity\, access\, and community empowerment through technology and 
 literacy\, including global partnerships\, XR cultural preservation\, and 
 the development of sustainable book ecosystems.\n\n \n\n\n\nTom Fay\, Exec
 utive Director/Chief Librarian\, A native of southern Nevada\, Tom Fay’s
  42-year career in libraries began in 1983 as a page\, and he later held r
 oles as Executive Director of Henderson Libraries and the Deputy Director 
 and Chief Operating Officer of Las Vegas Clark County Library District in 
 Nevada. After joining The Seattle Public Library as Director of Library Pr
 ograms and Services in 2015\, Fay was appointed to serve as Interim Chief 
 Librarian in 2021\, and in March 2022\, the Library Board voted unanimousl
 y to select Fay as the new Executive Director and Chief Librarian. Fay hol
 ds a Fine Arts degree from the University of Nevada\, Las Vegas\, and a Ma
 ster's in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin
 \, Milwaukee. He has been awarded the O’Callaghan Public Sector Person o
 f the Year and selected as Nevada’s Librarian of the Year. He enjoys spe
 nding time with his wife and daughter experiencing the great outdoors in t
 he Pacific Northwest.\n\n \n\n\n\nBetsy Gomez is a publishing professional
  with over two decades of experience as an editor\, writer\, designer\, an
 d project manager. She currently serves as an assistant director for the A
 merican Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom\, where sh
 e coordinates public outreach initiatives and develops digital resources t
 o defend intellectual freedom. Betsy is also the long-time Coordinator of 
 the Banned Books Week Coalition and previously served as Coalition and Edi
 torial Director for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund\, where she collabor
 ated with national partners to advance free expression and literacy. She i
 s the editor of She Changed Comics\, an award-winning history of women in 
 comics\, and continues to champion the freedom to read through advocacy\, 
 publications\, and creative storytelling.\n\n \n\n\n\nNicholas Higgins is 
 Chief Librarian of the Brooklyn Public Library\, where he leads one of the
  nation’s largest public library systems in advancing equity\, access\, 
 and lifelong learning. As the primary founder of Books Unbanned\, he has c
 hampioned national access to banned and challenged books\, positioning lib
 raries at the forefront of the fight for intellectual freedom. With more t
 han a decade at BPL\, he has overseen outreach services and innovative com
 munity engagement initiatives\, particularly serving immigrants\, youth\, 
 and justice-involved populations. Previously\, he directed Correctional Se
 rvices at The New York Public Library\, expanding access to books and educ
 ational opportunities for incarcerated New Yorkers. A graduate of Hunter C
 ollege and Pratt Institute\, Nick has dedicated his career to leveraging l
 ibraries as engines of social change and advocates fiercely for the freedo
 m to read and the essential role of libraries in democracy.\n\n \n\n\n\nJo
 hn MacLeod serves as Executive Director of XRLibraries\, where he champion
 s equitable access to cutting-edge technology by leading the installation 
 of XR emerging technology systems and programs in underserved libraries\, 
 transforming how students experience immersive learning opportunities! Joh
 n breaks down barriers between advanced XR technology and communities that
  need it most\, creating pathways for hands-on exploration that traditiona
 l learning environments simply can't match. His dedication goes beyond jus
 t providing equipment – he builds comprehensive support systems that ens
 ure every student can dive into virtual worlds\, conduct interactive exper
 iments\, and engage with complex concepts through immersive experiences. B
 y partnering with educational institutions and community organizations\, J
 ohn demonstrates how XR technology serves as a powerful bridge to knowledg
 e\, creativity\, and career exploration. His work proves that innovative t
 echnology meets passionate advocacy for accessibility. The result is trans
 formational for students preparing to launch their futures in our increasi
 ngly digital world!\n\nJoin the SJSU King Library and the San José Public
  Library — in partnership with the SJSU Pride Center\, SJSU College of t
 he Humanities & the Arts\, SJSU Department of Humanities\, SJSU Center for
  Steinbeck Studies\, SJSU School of Information\, Santa Clara City Library
 \, California State Senator Dave Cortese\, SJSU Department of English & Co
 mparative Literature\, SJSU Department of African American Studies\, SJSU 
 Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies\, and the SJSU Artistic Excellen
 ce Programming Grants — as we celebrate Banned Books Week with a week's 
 worth of events highlighting our right to read freely.
LOCATION:
SUMMARY:Freedom to Read in Virtual Reality
URL;VALUE=URI:https://events.sjsu.edu/event/freedom-to-read-in-virtual-real
 ity
CATEGORIES:Info Sessions\, Fairs and Events
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