Sarah Lamdan
@sarahlamdan.bsky.social
Librarian & lawyer. Wrote Data Cartels (Stanford University Press, 2022). Creative non-fiction at Sarah Lawrence. Kicking cancer where it counts.
This account is personal - opinions are my own.
This account is personal - opinions are my own.
No one can own the law - Bob Ambrogi gives us summaries of the many (!) amicus briefs filed in support of access to legal information in the ROSS Intelligence litigation with Thomson Reuters as it heads to the Third Circuit.
www.lawnext.com/2025/11/no-o...
www.lawnext.com/2025/11/no-o...
‘No One Can Own the Law’: Amici Come Out In Force to Support ROSS In Appeal of Copyright Ruling Favoring Thomson Reuters
As the long-running litigation between Thomson Reuters and ROSS Intelligence has moved to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for an interlocutory appeal of the trial judge's copyright rulings in fa...
www.lawnext.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:06 AM
No one can own the law - Bob Ambrogi gives us summaries of the many (!) amicus briefs filed in support of access to legal information in the ROSS Intelligence litigation with Thomson Reuters as it heads to the Third Circuit.
www.lawnext.com/2025/11/no-o...
www.lawnext.com/2025/11/no-o...
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
I can't keep the thread up, but suffice to say, PEOPLE VOTED TO PROTECT AND FUND LIBRARIES AND SO MANY SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS SUPPORTED PRO-EDUCATION, PRO-STUDENT CANDIDATES.
People showed up. They didn't just buy banned books. They VOTED.
And guess what?
Voting made a difference.
People showed up. They didn't just buy banned books. They VOTED.
And guess what?
Voting made a difference.
November 5, 2025 at 2:03 PM
I can't keep the thread up, but suffice to say, PEOPLE VOTED TO PROTECT AND FUND LIBRARIES AND SO MANY SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS SUPPORTED PRO-EDUCATION, PRO-STUDENT CANDIDATES.
People showed up. They didn't just buy banned books. They VOTED.
And guess what?
Voting made a difference.
People showed up. They didn't just buy banned books. They VOTED.
And guess what?
Voting made a difference.
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
😎😎😎😎 GOOD THINGS CAN STILL HAPPEN 😎😎😎😎
November 5, 2025 at 5:22 AM
😎😎😎😎 GOOD THINGS CAN STILL HAPPEN 😎😎😎😎
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
NEW YORK CITY - see Kim A Snyder‘s @nytimes.com Critics Pick documentary THE LIBRARIANS this weekend. After an incredible five week run, this is your last chance to see the film at @filmforumnyc.bsky.social! Ending Nov 6th, get tix now!
thelibrariansfilm.com/host-a-scree...
thelibrariansfilm.com/host-a-scree...
October 31, 2025 at 9:32 PM
NEW YORK CITY - see Kim A Snyder‘s @nytimes.com Critics Pick documentary THE LIBRARIANS this weekend. After an incredible five week run, this is your last chance to see the film at @filmforumnyc.bsky.social! Ending Nov 6th, get tix now!
thelibrariansfilm.com/host-a-scree...
thelibrariansfilm.com/host-a-scree...
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
Kim A. Snyder’s award-winning documentary is now playing throughout the US. Celebrate the last day of @bannedbooksweek.bsky.social with our hero librarians and be inspired to join the fight. See THE LIBRARIANS in theaters, get tickets now. TheLibrariansFilm.com/screenings
October 11, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Kim A. Snyder’s award-winning documentary is now playing throughout the US. Celebrate the last day of @bannedbooksweek.bsky.social with our hero librarians and be inspired to join the fight. See THE LIBRARIANS in theaters, get tickets now. TheLibrariansFilm.com/screenings
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
#LetFreedomReadDay is in ONE WEEK! On 10/11, take at least ONE action to help defend books from censorship and speak up for those who make them available. Find resources/tools + actions you can take in just 5 mins: uniteagainstbookbans.org/let-freedom-read-day #BannedBooksWeek #UniteAgainstBookBans
October 4, 2025 at 7:13 PM
#LetFreedomReadDay is in ONE WEEK! On 10/11, take at least ONE action to help defend books from censorship and speak up for those who make them available. Find resources/tools + actions you can take in just 5 mins: uniteagainstbookbans.org/let-freedom-read-day #BannedBooksWeek #UniteAgainstBookBans
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
Just ordered the new book from Brian Morton. What a great person he is. A teacher and friend to all who read his work.
(I gave a couple of talks at Sarah Lawrence where he teaches and it turned out I was the student.)
bookshop.org/p/books/writ...
(I gave a couple of talks at Sarah Lawrence where he teaches and it turned out I was the student.)
bookshop.org/p/books/writ...
Writing as a Way of Life: A Book about Art, Craft, and Devotion
A Book about Art, Craft, and Devotion
bookshop.org
October 4, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Just ordered the new book from Brian Morton. What a great person he is. A teacher and friend to all who read his work.
(I gave a couple of talks at Sarah Lawrence where he teaches and it turned out I was the student.)
bookshop.org/p/books/writ...
(I gave a couple of talks at Sarah Lawrence where he teaches and it turned out I was the student.)
bookshop.org/p/books/writ...
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
The 2025 #TIME100NEXT list is out! I'm honored to be a part of this group: time.com/next @la-cac.org
September 30, 2025 at 12:53 PM
The 2025 #TIME100NEXT list is out! I'm honored to be a part of this group: time.com/next @la-cac.org
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
The starting point for any ID system should be to reduce the situations that you need to provide ID for to a minimum. Ask ‘do we really need to know ID for this?’ and in a great many scenarios the answer will be ‘no’.
So don’t ask. Everyone is better off.
So don’t ask. Everyone is better off.
September 28, 2025 at 11:15 AM
The starting point for any ID system should be to reduce the situations that you need to provide ID for to a minimum. Ask ‘do we really need to know ID for this?’ and in a great many scenarios the answer will be ‘no’.
So don’t ask. Everyone is better off.
So don’t ask. Everyone is better off.
This is the best explanation I’ve seen about what Palantir is.
When I wrote Data Cartels, a book about data brokers, a lot of people asked why I didn’t focus on Palantir. The answer is that Palantir isn’t a data broker. Palantir creates ‘extravagant plumbing’ that depends on data brokers’ data.
When I wrote Data Cartels, a book about data brokers, a lot of people asked why I didn’t focus on Palantir. The answer is that Palantir isn’t a data broker. Palantir creates ‘extravagant plumbing’ that depends on data brokers’ data.
Palantir is in the news a lot lately. However, the public discourse about the company often misconstrues it as a data broker, a data miner, a single centralized database, etc. But what does Palantir actually do?
I wrote a piece to firmly & clearly answer that question:
www.wired.com/story/palant...
I wrote a piece to firmly & clearly answer that question:
www.wired.com/story/palant...
What Does Palantir Actually Do?
Palantir is often called a data broker, a data miner, or a giant database of personal information. In reality, it’s none of these—but even former employees struggle to explain it.
www.wired.com
September 19, 2025 at 12:15 PM
This is the best explanation I’ve seen about what Palantir is.
When I wrote Data Cartels, a book about data brokers, a lot of people asked why I didn’t focus on Palantir. The answer is that Palantir isn’t a data broker. Palantir creates ‘extravagant plumbing’ that depends on data brokers’ data.
When I wrote Data Cartels, a book about data brokers, a lot of people asked why I didn’t focus on Palantir. The answer is that Palantir isn’t a data broker. Palantir creates ‘extravagant plumbing’ that depends on data brokers’ data.
New reporting about AI slop in libraries from rockstar reporter @clurrese.bsky.social featuring some rockstar librarians! 🥰
www.404media.co/librarians-a...
www.404media.co/librarians-a...
Librarians Are Being Asked to Find AI-Hallucinated Books
It’s a trippy time to have a library card.
www.404media.co
September 18, 2025 at 3:51 PM
New reporting about AI slop in libraries from rockstar reporter @clurrese.bsky.social featuring some rockstar librarians! 🥰
www.404media.co/librarians-a...
www.404media.co/librarians-a...
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
Do you know an intellectual freedom fighter in New York state? Nominate them for this year's Intellectual Freedom Award from the New York Library Association! I can't wait to read your stories! Due October 3!
www.nyla.org/intellectual...
www.nyla.org/intellectual...
Intellectual Freedom Award
www.nyla.org
September 3, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Do you know an intellectual freedom fighter in New York state? Nominate them for this year's Intellectual Freedom Award from the New York Library Association! I can't wait to read your stories! Due October 3!
www.nyla.org/intellectual...
www.nyla.org/intellectual...
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
Congratulations @samuelmoore.org!
Received the print copy of my book (out next week!). Obligatory shot with @theul.bsky.social in the background.
August 27, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Congratulations @samuelmoore.org!
Fantastic read by Trevor Quirk on the most fascinating topic: data flows.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/m...
I Never Understood Our Data-Saturated Life Until a Hurricane Shut It Down
www.nytimes.com
August 11, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Fantastic read by Trevor Quirk on the most fascinating topic: data flows.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/m...
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
Fobazi is currently in the ICU and could use your support. Apologies to those I haven’t been able to reach out to yet. You can message me for more info and I will be posting updates to GoFundMe. Please share, send healing thoughts, prayers, etc. ❤️ -Elena
gofund.me/c8485b58
gofund.me/c8485b58
Donate to Fobazi’s road to recovery: Kidney and liver transplant, organized by Ysabel Gerrard
Hello all, my name is Ysabel and I’m fundraising for my friends … Ysabel Gerrard needs your support for Fobazi’s road to recovery: Kidney and liver transplant
gofund.me
August 7, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Fobazi is currently in the ICU and could use your support. Apologies to those I haven’t been able to reach out to yet. You can message me for more info and I will be posting updates to GoFundMe. Please share, send healing thoughts, prayers, etc. ❤️ -Elena
gofund.me/c8485b58
gofund.me/c8485b58
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
Federal employees said they worry about the future of FOIA in the U.S., not only for their sake, but for requesters as well. www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
The future of FOIA
Federal employees said they worry about the future of FOIA in the U.S., not only for their sake, but for requesters as well.
www.muckrock.com
August 6, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Federal employees said they worry about the future of FOIA in the U.S., not only for their sake, but for requesters as well. www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
It appears that the Constitution, as it is on Congress's website, has been altered. The Constitution.
The original: web.archive.org/web/20250601...
Today's: web.archive.org/web/20250806...
Note Article One, Sections 9 & 10.
The original: web.archive.org/web/20250601...
Today's: web.archive.org/web/20250806...
Note Article One, Sections 9 & 10.
U.S. Constitution | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
The original text of the United States Constitution and its Amendments.
web.archive.org
August 6, 2025 at 3:16 PM
It appears that the Constitution, as it is on Congress's website, has been altered. The Constitution.
The original: web.archive.org/web/20250601...
Today's: web.archive.org/web/20250806...
Note Article One, Sections 9 & 10.
The original: web.archive.org/web/20250601...
Today's: web.archive.org/web/20250806...
Note Article One, Sections 9 & 10.
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
Was going to try my hand at minting a new term for AI issues in libraries for a blog post I'm working on with @libraryfutures.bsky.social but found out @sarahlamdan.bsky.social already beat me to it with "vendor slurry", so it's just "AI vendor slurry" now.
July 25, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Was going to try my hand at minting a new term for AI issues in libraries for a blog post I'm working on with @libraryfutures.bsky.social but found out @sarahlamdan.bsky.social already beat me to it with "vendor slurry", so it's just "AI vendor slurry" now.
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
Applications for the Ask A Librarian Internship are open for one more week! This paid, remote, part-time internship is open to currently enrolled Library & Information Science students. Apply by July 16. library.columbia.edu/about/jobs-i...
July 9, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Applications for the Ask A Librarian Internship are open for one more week! This paid, remote, part-time internship is open to currently enrolled Library & Information Science students. Apply by July 16. library.columbia.edu/about/jobs-i...
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
We’re working on a Freedom to Read advocacy toolkit for children 2-8 for #BannedBooksWeek! What are some kid friendly actions families can take together to fight #BookBans?
July 11, 2025 at 10:49 AM
We’re working on a Freedom to Read advocacy toolkit for children 2-8 for #BannedBooksWeek! What are some kid friendly actions families can take together to fight #BookBans?
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
Also if you're interested, I wrote a book about this:
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706321...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706321...
May 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Also if you're interested, I wrote a book about this:
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706321...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706321...
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
"[D]ata is useful, it’s for sale, and the government’s buying. Tau describes the tension between a government eager to reap the benefits of data brokers’ tools and civil rights advocates alarmed by how invasive these tools are."
@sarahlamdan.bsky.social reviews "Means of Control" by Byron Tau.
@sarahlamdan.bsky.social reviews "Means of Control" by Byron Tau.
Tracing the Origins of a ‘New American Surveillance State’
A review of Byron Tau, "Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government Is Creating a New American Surveillance State" (Crown, 2024).
www.lawfaremedia.org
May 9, 2025 at 5:25 PM
"[D]ata is useful, it’s for sale, and the government’s buying. Tau describes the tension between a government eager to reap the benefits of data brokers’ tools and civil rights advocates alarmed by how invasive these tools are."
@sarahlamdan.bsky.social reviews "Means of Control" by Byron Tau.
@sarahlamdan.bsky.social reviews "Means of Control" by Byron Tau.
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
ALA is deeply disappointed in the result of today's Senate vote to reject using #ERate funding for wi-fi hotspot programs. The E-Rate program is broadly popular and admired, helping millions of Americans get online through the library and at school. More from ALA President Cindy Hohl ⤵️
May 6, 2025 at 9:13 PM
ALA is deeply disappointed in the result of today's Senate vote to reject using #ERate funding for wi-fi hotspot programs. The E-Rate program is broadly popular and admired, helping millions of Americans get online through the library and at school. More from ALA President Cindy Hohl ⤵️
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
Reposted by Sarah Lamdan
Everything old is new again: “Many librarians lived in fear of losing their jobs or facing prosecution because of the contents of their libraries.”
“No Censorship at Any Time”: The 1953 Westchester Conference – American Library Association Archives – U of I Library
wordpress.library.illinois.edu
May 1, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Everything old is new again: “Many librarians lived in fear of losing their jobs or facing prosecution because of the contents of their libraries.”