LACUNY Dialogues 2026 – Library as “The Commons”: balancing freedom, inquiry, & inclusion

Friday, March 13, 2026

2pm via Zoom 

In this time of division, isolation, polarization, and attacks on higher education, the academic library stands as a vital "Commons"—a shared space and resources that belong to everyone in the CUNY community and no one simultaneously. How do we protect intellectual freedom while ensuring an inclusive environment? How does the "Commons" adapt to the unique pressures of a large urban public university? We invite you to share your insights, experiments, and provocations.

Lightning Presentations:

A Curatorial Approach to Belonging: Artistic Monthly Library Displays that Celebrate Heritage and Equity
Madeline Ruggiero, Queensborough Community College

Common Ground on the Commons [no presentation slides, but a fantastic talk]
Jessica Jackson, York College 

The Radical Possibilities of Open Educational Resources [download] 
Rebecca Morofsky, Queens College

WCAG 2.1 Made Easy: Actionable Steps for Library Web Accessibility [download]
Ashley Dirzis, College of Staten Island

Space as a Service: Activating experiential space and relational service [download]
Sean O’Heir, The City College of New York