the Uncensored Library

{{Short description|Minecraft server and map containing banned reporting}}

{{Infobox software

| logo = The Uncensored Library vector logo.svg

| logo alt = The Uncensored Library

| logo size = 200px

| screenshot = The_Uncensored_Library_Front.jpg

| screenshot alt = An in-game screenshot with blocky graphics of a white library in the neo-classical style, with a tree-lined path leading to it

| developer = Berlin DDB, BlockWorks, .monks, Reporters Without Borders{{Efn|Berlin DDB and BlockWorks built the structure of the library, while .monks and Reporters without Borders published the project, the latter also selecting the articles displayed within the library.}}

| released = {{Start date and age|2020|03|12}}

| genre = Minecraft server & map

| website = {{URL|https://uncensoredlibrary.com/}}

}}

The Uncensored Library is a Minecraft server and map released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and created by BlockWorks, DDB Berlin,{{Cite news |last=Nelius |first=Joanna |url=https://gizmodo.com/this-minecraft-library-provides-a-platform-for-censored-1842298748 |title=This Minecraft Library Provides a Platform for Censored Journalists |date=March 12, 2020 |work=Gizmodo |access-date=March 15, 2020 |department=Games |language=en-us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314190710/https://gizmodo.com/this-minecraft-library-provides-a-platform-for-censored-1842298748 |archive-date=March 14, 2020 |url-status=live }} and .monks as an attempt to circumvent censorship in countries without freedom of the press. The library contains banned reporting from Mexico, Russia, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Brazil, Belarus, Iran and Eritrea.{{Cite journal |last1=Cavalcanti |first1=Marcycleis Maria |last2=Siebra |first2=Sandra Albuquerque |last3=Bufrem |first3=Leilah Santiago |last4=Pajeú |first4=Hélio Márcio |date=2022-11-13 |title=Uncensored Library Project: a strategy to circumvent censorship in countries predatory of press freedom |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367498970 |access-date=2023-07-10 |journal=Revista Digital de Biblioteconomia e Ciência da Informação|volume=20 |issue=2022 |pages=1–22 |doi=10.20396/rdbci.v20i00.8669187/30478|s2cid=259954325 |doi-access=free }}{{Cite web |date=2021-09-30 |title=The MediaMonks Take Us Inside The Uncensored Library |url=https://www.webbyawards.com/news/mediamonks-winner-stories-the-uncensored-library/ |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Webby Awards |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=The Uncensored Library |url=https://www.uncensoredlibrary.com/en |url-status=live}} An entire wing is given to each country, each containing several banned articles. The library was released on March 12, 2020, the World Day Against Cyber Censorship. The two ways to access the library are to download a map from the official website, or to connect to their Minecraft server.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/13/tech/minecraft-uncensored-library-scli-intl/index.html |title=Minecraft hosts uncensored library full of banned texts |last=Woodyatt |first=Amy |date=March 13, 2020 |website=CNN |access-date=March 15, 2020 |department=Tech |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313194624/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/13/tech/minecraft-uncensored-library-scli-intl/index.html |archive-date=March 13, 2020 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |first=Cian |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/18/21184041/minecraft-library-censored-journalism-reporters-without-borders |last=Maher |title=This Minecraft library is making journalism accessible all over the world |date=March 18, 2020 |work=The Verge |access-date=March 19, 2020 |department=Gaming |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319160018/https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/18/21184041/minecraft-library-censored-journalism-reporters-without-borders |archive-date=March 19, 2020 |url-status=live }}

Design

The library is a large scale project built using a neoclassical architectural style. It is intended to resemble well-established institutions such as the New York Public Library, as well as stylistically allude to the authoritarian structures the project aims to subvert. The library uses over 12.5 million Minecraft blocks.{{cite web |title=The Uncensored Library — The Making of |url=https://uncensoredlibrary.com/en/v/making-of |website=The Uncensored Library |publisher=Reporters Without Borders |accessdate=21 May 2020 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308113809/https://uncensoredlibrary.com/en/v/making-of |url-status=live }}

Format

File:TheUncensoredLibrary_BookExample.png.|name=|group=}}]]

Each of the nine countries covered by the library, as well as Reporters without Borders, has an individual wing, containing a number of articles, available in English and the original language the article was written in. The texts within the library are contained in in-game book items, which can be opened and placed on stands to be read by multiple players at once. These articles generally discuss censorship, unjust punishment, and other critiques of the writer's government. The interior architecture of each country's room symbolizes each country's unique situation and journalistic challenges. Additionally, the library contains a central room listing the Press Freedom Index and state of freedom of the press of every country covered by the index, and the Mexican section contains memorials for reporters who were killed due to their writings. In March 2020, the library contained over 200 different books.

A room in the library covers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on journalism, containing books on 10 countries (Brazil, China, Egypt, Hungary, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Thailand and Turkmenistan) to show how reporting of the virus in each country has been affected.{{Cite news |last=Peet |first=Lisa |date=April 7, 2022 |work=Library Journal |title=Reporters Without Borders' Uncensored Library Uses Minecraft To Provide Access to Censored Work |url=https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/reporters-without-borders-uncensored-library-uses-minecraft-to-provide-access-to-censored-work |access-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006161024/https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/reporters-without-borders-uncensored-library-uses-minecraft-to-provide-access-to-censored-work |url-status=live }}

Reception

After launch, the project went viral across social media platforms and has been featured in various media outlets such as the BBC,{{Cite news |last1=Gerken |first1=Tom |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51883247 |title=Minecraft 'loophole' library of banned journalism |date=March 13, 2020 |work=BBC |access-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814173639/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51883247 |url-status=live }} DW News,{{Cite news |last1=Hein |first1=Matthias von |url=https://www.dw.com/en/reporter-without-borders-builds-uncensored-minecraft-library/a-52745435 |title=Reporter Without Borders builds uncensored Minecraft library |date=March 12, 2020 |work=DW News |access-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308052208/https://www.dw.com/en/reporter-without-borders-builds-uncensored-minecraft-library/a-52745435 |url-status=live }} CNBC,{{Cite news |last1=Huddleston Jr. |first1=Tom |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/13/reporters-without-borders-uses-minecraft-to-sneak-banned-news-into-restrictive-countries.html |title=Reporters Without Borders is using Minecraft to sneak censored news to readers in restrictive countries |date=March 15, 2020 |work=CNBC |access-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814173638/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/13/reporters-without-borders-uses-minecraft-to-sneak-banned-news-into-restrictive-countries.html |url-status=live }} CNN, TechCrunch,{{Cite news |last1=Coldewey |first1=Devin |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/12/reporters-without-borders-uses-minecraft-to-sneak-censored-works-across-borders/ |title=Reporters Without Borders uses Minecraft to sneak censored works across borders |date=March 12, 2020 |work=Tech Crunch |access-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-date=August 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802142533/https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/12/reporters-without-borders-uses-minecraft-to-sneak-censored-works-across-borders/ |url-status=live }} The Verge, Gizmodo, Engadget,{{Cite news |last1=Fingas |first1=Jon |url=https://www.engadget.com/2020-03-15-minecraft-uncensored-library.html?guccounter=1 |title='Minecraft' library helps you dodge news media censorship |date=March 15, 2020 |work=Engadget |access-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308145602/https://www.engadget.com/2020-03-15-minecraft-uncensored-library.html?guccounter=1 |url-status=live }} Mashable,{{Cite news |last1=Gill |first1=Tarvin |url=https://sea.mashable.com/tech/9633/this-minecraft-library-safeguards-all-censored-news-of-the-world |title=This 'Minecraft' library safeguards all censored news of the world |date=March 18, 2020 |work=Mashable |access-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814173638/https://sea.mashable.com/tech/9633/this-minecraft-library-safeguards-all-censored-news-of-the-world |url-status=live }} PC Gamer{{Cite news |last1=Davenport |first1=James |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/new-minecraft-library-is-clever-loophole-and-safe-haven-for-censored-journalism/ |title=New Minecraft library is clever loophole and safe haven for censored journalism |date=March 13, 2020 |work=PC Gamer |access-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814173637/https://www.pcgamer.com/new-minecraft-library-is-clever-loophole-and-safe-haven-for-censored-journalism/ |url-status=live }} and Scene World Magazine.{{Cite news |author1=AJ |author2=Joerg |url=https://sceneworld.org/blog/2020/05/25/podcast-episode-89-the-uncensored-library/ |title=Podcast Episode #89 - The Uncensored Library |date=May 25, 2020 |work=Scene World |access-date=March 6, 2021 |archive-date=May 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521150946/https://sceneworld.org/blog/2020/05/25/podcast-episode-89-the-uncensored-library/ |url-status=live }} The project also received a 2022 Peabody Award for the Interactive category.{{Cite web |last=Voyles |first=Blake |date=September 13, 2023 |title=83rd Peabody Award Winners |url=https://peabodyawards.com/awards/winners/ |accessdate=September 13, 2023}}

When awarding The Uncensored Library with their Peabody Award, Peabody's website described the library as "a monument to press freedom and an innovative back door for access to censored content."{{Cite web |title=The Uncensored Library |url=https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-uncensored-library/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=The Peabody Awards |language=en-US}}

the Uncensored Library

Design

Format

Reception

Notes

References

External links