A Q&A with author and advocate Shamichael Hallman on how public libraries can help us rebuild civic trust and connection - if we redefine our relationship with them.
"A community is not a machine. It is not a cogs-and-gears device or an elegant algorithm designed by an engineer to maximize efficiency. A community is a garden: a complex adaptive ecosystem in which all kinds of life is striving to thrive, a riot of diversity with the potential for both beautiful bounty and terrible chaos. Left to itself, a garden will eventually be overrun by weeds. Gardens require gardeners. There are no better gardeners of our democracy than public librarians."
Eric Liu, CEO and cofounder of Citizen University, in the foreword to Meet Me at the Library
As Cascadians from Oregon to Alaska, British Columbia to the Rockies, process their respective election results and reflect further on the health of the democratic institutions that support their communities, they might take heart from the lessons of a new book exploring the public library as a space of critical civic engagement. Author Shamichael Hallman, Director of Civic Health and Economic Opportunity with Urban Libraries Council, writes of a space that joins people together from all walks of life and offers resources to learn, connect, and realize their shared priorities.
Below Hallman shares ideas from his long and varied experience working with public libraries, including his own path to library advocacy, stories from Pacific Northwest libraries, and ways to learn more and get involved. Read more by purchasing - or checking out from your library! - his book, Meet Me At the Library: A Place to Foster Social Connection and Promote Democracy.
How did you first connect with the world of public libraries?
I share this story often because it holds a special place in my heart. Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around public libraries. As an introverted, highly sensitive kid, libraries were one of the few places where I felt truly safe. The librarians were always kind, I could always discover new comic books, and they had the best encyclopedias. One of my favorite reads was Encyclopedia Brown, a series of children's novels from the 1960s about boy detective Leroy Brown. I'd sit in the library for hours, reading those stories and then trying to write my own versions. Some days, I'd just people-watch. Occasionally, there were fun programs where I could meet others. The library became my home away from home.
My professional journey into the world of libraries began in 2016. That year, I had a conversation with the Memphis Public Library system about a potential opportunity to develop and coordinate library services for teens. The role was exciting - it involved working alongside librarians and teen specialists throughout the system to create engaging, customer-centered activities and programs. It also included responsibilities like enhancing teen-focused digital services, designing metrics to evaluate program effectiveness, recruiting and retaining participants, and aligning everything with the library's strategic plan.
At the time, I was working for an incredible megachurch in Memphis, where I held various leadership roles that allowed me to explore and refine innovative approaches to community building and technology. In addition, I had spent the previous three years co-organizing a global faith-based hackathon series, which kept me deeply connected to emerging technologies. While the library role initially aligned with many of my interests and skills, the timing simply wasn't right. However, less than a year later, the library approached me with a new opportunity: helping to oversee the renovation of a historic branch in downtown Memphis, the Cossitt Library. This time, the timing was perfect. The role allowed me to fully integrate my expertise in technology, community engagement, strategic planning, and public speaking. It became a defining moment in my life and career, marking a ...
