Meet Me at the Library

America is facing an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, with troubling effects on our mental and physical health. We
live in one of the most divisive times in our history, one in which we tend to work, play, and associate only with people
who think as we do. How do we create spaces for people to come together—to open our minds, understand our
differences, and exchange ideas?

Shamichael Hallman argues that the public library may be our best hope for bridging these divides and creating strong,inclusive communities. While public libraries have long been thought of as a place for a select few, increasingly they are
playing an essential role in building social cohesion, promoting civic renewal, and advancing the ideals of a healthy
democracy. Many are reimagining themselves in new and innovative ways, actively reaching out to the communities they

serve. Today, libraries are becoming essential institutions for repairing society.
Libraries have a unique opportunity to bridge socioeconomic divides and rebuild trust. But in order to do so, they must
be truly welcoming to all. They and their communities must work collaboratively to bridge socioeconomic divides
through innovative and productive partnerships.

Drawing from his experience at the Memphis Public Library and his extensive research and interviews across the
country, Hallman presents a rich argument for seeing libraries as one of the nation’s greatest assets. He includes
examples from libraries large and small—such as the Iowa’s North Liberty Library’s Lighthouse in the Library program to
bring people together to discuss important topics in a safe and supportive space, to Cambridge Cooks, an initiative of the
Cambridge MA Public Library that fosters social connection by bringing people together over shared interest in food.

As an institution that is increasingly under attack for creating a place where diverse audiences can see themselves, public
libraries are under more scrutiny than ever. Meet Me at the Library offers us a revealing look at one of our most important
civic institutions and the social and civic impact they must play if we are to heal our divided nation.

Author Biography

Shamichael Hallman serves as the Director of Civic Health and Economic Opportunity at Urban Libraries Council, an innovation and action tank of North America’s leading public library systems. In this role he’s working to advance conversations about public libraries as essential city and county infrastructure, including their value as physical spaces and a connector of diverse lived experiences. From 2017 – 2022 he served as the Senior Library Manager of the historic Cossitt Library (Memphis Public Libraries), tasked with overseeing the multi-million-dollar renovation of this space which reimagined the roles that a branch library could play in the community. During his tenure with Memphis Public Libraries, the library system was awarded the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Science by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and was recognized as the Nation’s Most Innovative Public Library by Smithsonian Magazine in November of 2021. His 2020 TEDx talk “Reimagining the Public Library to Reconnect the Community” garnered international attention among librarians and social innovators. He holds a MS in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, and was a ’23 Loeb Fellow at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.