A Mellon Foundation Virtual Discussion, October 27th: “America is at the Library-Not Just the Ballot Box”
From the Mellon Foundation:
Voters soon head to the polls for one of the country’s vital exercises in civic engagement: an election. But the ballot box is just one place to participate in democracy in action—the full potential of civic life occurs daily at your local public library. And unlike the vote, the library is open to all.
At the library today, you can participate in citywide reading programs, take citizenship and language classes, register to vote, and research your genealogy and heritage in local archives. No longer relegated to the reference desk, library workers are on the front lines of some of our most pressing social justice issues.
As we mark National Arts and Humanities Month in October, join us to envision the full potential of public libraries and hear from people meeting the challenges facing the field—and the country—today.
This livestream event features Mellon Foundation President Dr. Elizabeth Alexander, American Library Association Executive Director Tracie D. Hall, and Los Angeles Public Library’s City Librarian, John F. Szabo, in discussion about where we can all come together: our nation’s libraries.
Learn More and Register For the Virtual Discussion
Filed under: Archives and Special Collections, Libraries, News, Public Libraries

About Gary Price
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.