Read my “Letters from the Road”

Catch-Up on the Tour:

 

What is Holding Space?

The American Library Association’s nationwide virtual tour highlights the innovation and impact of a diverse range of libraries and engages stakeholders to advocate for libraries and the communities they serve.

As part of my broader work to build relationships and strengthen connections, Holding Space will feature town halls, round table discussions and interviews with library leaders, state and local partners, and elected officials covering topics ranging from HBCUs and academic libraries, to school, tribal, and public libraries—all while amplifying the concerns of each community along the route.

When and where does the conversation happen?

The tour kicks off on July 27, 2020 from the Library of Congress and winds its way across the country to Oakland, CA, on August 7, 2020. 

Each stop of the tour will be broadcast via Zoom and archived on YouTube so members can join in the conversation. 

Why this? Why now?

Libraries are—and have always been—community anchors, addressing challenges in times of peace and in times of crisis. When I was elected ALA President, I knew I wanted to shine a light on programs and communities that don’t get the attention they deserve, and this virtual format allows us to critically examine our cultural moment through the lens of the most pressing issues in our profession.”

How to get involved

You can join me in visiting more than a dozen libraries and the communities they serve over the course of ten days. Through discussions and roundtables, you will hear about HBCU priorities from library leaders across the country, learn about innovative partnerships for career and workforce development in Cambria County Pennsylvania, Pioneer County Library System, and Nevada State Library, explore the critical importance of tribal broadband with tribal library leaders from Santo Domingo Pueblo in New Mexico, and more.