Greetings,
With generous funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Tufts University’s Tisch Library is preparing to host a virtual National Forum on the Prevention of Cyber Sexual Abuse, scheduled for October 5–7, 2021. Across a diverse group of academic library workers, the National Forum will build a shared understanding about how cyber sexual abuse is perpetrated, the racialized and gendered power structures that enable it, as well as tools and strategies for prevention. We aim to inspire, empower, and energize library workers to build relationships across their campuses and develop outreach, instruction, and other support structures in order to cultivate campus cultures of consent and liberated participation in online spaces. If you are interested in joining an academic library community to advocate against digital violence, we invite you to apply to be a member of our Learning Cohort. Expectations of the Learning Cohort include: * Each member of this Learning Cohort will receive a reading packet to establish a shared understanding of cyber sexual abuse and its effect on academic library patrons. * Learning Cohort participants will be encouraged to join informal asynchronous pre-Forum virtual activities from June 2021–September 2021 to reinforce shared vocabulary, answer questions, and build community before attending the Forum itself. * Learning Cohort members are required to attend the National Forum for the Prevention of Cyber Sexual Abuse (October 5–7, 2021). * Following the Forum, 10 selected members of the Learning Cohort will identify and create deliverables such as a curricular roadmap and/or advocacy toolkit. These participants will each receive a stipend of $1,000 for their time, labor, expertise. Due to the complex landscape of cyber sexual abuse, the Learning Cohort will be limited to 30 library workers. The Project Team prioritizes participation from a diverse range of academic library institutions, and especially welcomes applications from library workers who have experience working at community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). Additionally, because digital violence disproportionately affects members of marginalized groups–including those who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and women–we will also prioritize the participation of those who can speak to these lived experiences. Please fill out this Qualtrics survey<https://tufts.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eh84a5Hrvk1u2xw> by Friday, May 21 if you are interested in participating. Note: all information entered in the survey will be kept confidential to the project team and will be securely deleted following the cohort selection. Qualtrics offers a very high level of data security and reasonable assurance of privacy, but we cannot guarantee absolutely against a data breach, subpoena, or other judicial order. If you’re concerned about this, please feel free to email the Project Director, Paige Walker, at [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. With gratitude, Paige, on behalf of the Project Team (Adam Jazairi and Chelcie Juliet Rowell) Paige Walker Head of Digital Initiatives, Tisch Library Tufts University [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 617-627-6027 she/her/hers
