Zakariya Gayle, Academic Support Librarian at UAL High Holborn made the switch from retail management to libraries, starting as a Casual Assistant in the public sector. This blog post was written after he attended Libraries Rewired.

The Cilip Libraries Rewired Conference 2023 brought together me, Lisa Chadwick, Michale Michael Darko, and librarians and information professionals from all over. It was a dynamic environment filled with discussions, presentations, and ideas. One concept stood out to me as a creative and cross-cultural collaboration—the Uncensored Library in Minecraft.

As the delegates arrived and navigated the conference venue, the Libraries Rewired banner greeted us like a sail, a symbol of the journey into the uncharted waters of library innovation. Downstairs, the concrete island with tables of suppliers created a marketplace of ideas and possibilities. I was drawn to the solutions provided by Affluences among other interesting concepts.

The long tables with white tablecloths were filled with snacks like grapes, apples, pears, and crisps. I debated with a fellow delegate whether the flour-dusted almond croissant was a good idea considering I was in all black. That was a pit-stop before I entered the idea of the Uncensored library.

James from Blockworks talked to and introduced the audience to the Uncensored Library during the "Gaming the Libraries" talks. Projected on screens in front of me was an image of a grand library in a retro 8-bit style format—a palace with green grass, a blue sky, and impressive architecture.

The Uncensored Library, a digital home of press freedom within the world of Minecraft, serves as a place where people can become avatars and access free press content banned in various countries. Each country without a free press is represented by a uniquely designed room, stylized to capture the essence of the content and country it represents.

As avatars, individuals from around the globe can explore archives, accessing real articles, audio, and video content. The librarians are moderators within the Minecraft world, playing a crucial role. Volunteers with information, they guide new users and answer questions, much like their real-world counterparts.

The Uncensored Library transcends borders and brings people together. It shows how library culture and creativity can intersect, solving real-world problems and fostering a sense of community.

As I left the conference dusting off some flour, The Uncensored Library was something I wanted to share—a virtual space breaking down barriers and promoting the right to access information.

Visit the Uncensored Library