This resource was developed by Thomas Alexander during the Library Futures Internship Program. The Program is an applied learning experience for the next generation of information professionals and future leaders of information and technology policy and advocacy. Interns in the cohort-based program work across the organization with project advisors and mentors to advance projects in advocacy, law, policy, research, and outreach on a variety of topics facing public institutions, libraries, museums, and archives. Student interns in the program create outputs ranging from podcasts and zines to research papers and resource templates.

About News Futures

News Futures is a community of journalists, organizers, and civic allies working together in a “do-ocracy” to build a future for news that is service-oriented, participatory, and reparative. As a partner organization, we are committed to pursuing opportunities that allow us to better understand, highlight, and grow our mission-aligned work.

About the Author

Thomas Alexander was an intern in the Library Futures 2024-25 Internship Program. He is an MLIS graduate of UCLA and an aspiring librarian—public or academic, anywhere he gets to help people run down the rabbit holes of their curiosity. He was inspired to become a librarian by his experiences first as a public library patron (shoutout LA County Library and Oakland Public Library), and then later as a library assistant (♥️ Contra Costa County Library). He is committed to advancing democratic, non-commercial avenues for producing and sharing knowledge. He organizes with the Los Angeles Tenants Union and enjoys tennis, improvised music, birdwatching, and singing in his car.