Shows
The Sidebar with Eric BarnesS6E17: Meet Me at the LibraryShamichael Hallman joins Eric Barnes to talk about the importance of libraries to the community and his new book, Meet Me at the Library. 2025-05-1327 min
Booked on PlanningMeet Me at the LibraryLibraries have always been pillars of knowledge in our communities, but their role is evolving far beyond book repositories. As author Shamichael Hallman reveals, these vital public institutions now serve as rare neutral spaces where people from all backgrounds can gather, connect, and rebuild the civic muscles we've lost in our increasingly polarized society.What makes libraries uniquely positioned for this work? First, they offer something increasingly rare—barrier-free indoor public spaces where anyone can enter regardless of income, education, or background. In an era of commercial third places that require purchases, libraries welcome everyone with no ex...2025-05-1348 min
Town Hall Seattle Civics Series389. Shamichael Hallman: Meet Me at the Library — A Place to Foster Social Connection and Promote Democracy 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? In his new book, Meet Me at the Library, Shamichael Hallman argues that the public library may be our best hope for bridging these divides and creating str...2025-05-021h 24
Humanities in Action: Building a Better FutureBuilding a Better Future through Public LibrariesIn this episode, we're speaking with Shamichael Hallman, the Director of Civic Health and Economic Opportunity at the Urban Libraries Council and author of Meet Me at the Library: A Place to Foster Social Connection and Promote Democracy.We’re talking about his role in reimagining the Cossitt Library in Downtown Memphis, why libraries are a critical part of civic infrastructure, and what he envisions for the future of libraries.Music by BackgroundMusicForVideo and Mike Kripak from Pixabay.2025-03-1123 min
Sightline Institute ResearchReintroducing: Your Local Library, a Critical Tool for DemocracyA 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...2025-02-0716 min
Sunshine & Stories from the Colorado State LibraryEp. 111 Don't Get Burned By SummerYou can now use the survey link below AND text us your feedback via Buzzsprout with this link right here!!If you give us a listen, please let us know what you think by completing a short feedback survey for this episode. Your feedback helps us grow and provides us with important reporting data for our funder. This project is made possible in part by a grant from the US Institute of Museum and Library Service.Episode Summary: Ever felt completely burned out even though you’re only halfway through summer? We hav...2025-01-2216 min
Library Leadership Podcast166. Bridgebuilding in Libraries with Jennie Garner, Shamichael Hallman, and Tare Susman-PeñaHave you wondered if there are ways for your library to engage your community in promoting civic engagement and bridging differences? On this show Jennie Garner, Director of the North Liberty Library, Shamichael Hallman, Director of Civic Health & Economic Opportunity for the Urban Libraries Council and the author of Meet Me at the Library, and Tara Susman-Peña, Senior Technical Expert for IREX, talk about the Bridgebuilding in Libraries Program and how all of us can engage in work that helps bring communities closer together.2024-12-1333 min
The Democracy GroupBest of 2023: Libraries as civic spaces | When the People DecideWe continue our Best of 2023 episodes with an episode from the When the People Decide podcast, hosted by Jenna Spinelle.Librarians have spoken for years about “library faith,” the belief that public libraries are central to democracy because they contribute to an informed citizenry. Today, the idea is gaining even more traction, and even conservative crackdowns on what’s permitted in libraries reinforce the idea that they’re more than just “book warehouses” but centers for community engagement and representativeness. This week, hear from two librarians working to enhance the role libraries of libraries democracy and civic enga...2023-12-1323 min
Village SquareCastWhen the People Decide Feed Drop | Libraries as civic spacesThe Village Square is truly delighted to offer you a feed drop episode of When The People Decide, a podcast about how everyday people are shaping democracy. Along with Village SquareCast, they're a member of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Listen to When The People Decide Here. This episode, Libraries as civic spaces is thoroughly enchanting to us—featuring special guests Shamichael Hallman and Nancy Kranich: Librarians have spoken for years about “library faith,” the belief that pub...2023-08-1726 min
Democracy WorksWhen the People Decide: Libraries as civic spacesWe're excited to present an episode from our sister podcast, When the People Decide, about how libraries can be sites of civic engagement and building a new social fabric in America's cities and towns.Librarians have spoken for years about “library faith,” the belief that public libraries are central to democracy because they contribute to an informed citizenry. Today, the idea is gaining even more traction, and even conservative crackdowns on what’s permitted in libraries reinforce the idea that they’re more than just “book warehouses” but centers for community engagement and representativeness. This week, hear fr...2023-08-0724 min
When the People DecideLibraries as civic spacesLibrarians have spoken for years about “library faith,” the belief that public libraries are central to democracy because they contribute to an informed citizenry. Today, the idea is gaining even more traction, and even conservative crackdowns on what’s permitted in libraries reinforce the idea that they’re more than just “book warehouses” but centers for community engagement and representativeness. This week, hear from two librarians working to enhance the role libraries of libraries democracy and civic engagement. Shamichael Hallman explains how he brought his experience in tech and faith leadership to bear when he ran a branch of the...2023-07-3122 min
What's Wrong With: The PodcastCo-creating Public Libraries ft. Shamichael HallmanFollow Shamichael Hallman’s website!Follow us on Instagram and on Twitter!Created by SOUR, this podcast is part of the studio's "Future of X,Y,Z" research, where the collaborative discussion outcomes serve as the base for the futuristic concepts built in line with the studio's mission of solving urban, social and environmental problems through intelligent designs.Make sure to visit our website - podcast.whatswrongwith.xyz- and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts so you never miss an episode. If you found value in thi...2023-06-0843 min
Meanwhile in Memphis with New MemphisFavorite Things #2 - The Pagemaster
The second installment of "Our Favorite Things" is the delightful Shamichael Hallman! His career is as generous as he is, spanning from tech and ministry to being a 2020 TEDxMemphis speaker and reimagining public spaces like the historic Cossitt Library.
This episode originally aired in February 2021, and was quickly a staff and fan favorite. Tune in and you'll see why!2021-12-2152 min
Meanwhile in Memphis with New MemphisThe PagemasterEpisode Notes
Memphis' very own pagemaster (yes, like the 1994 Macaulay Culkin film of he same name), Shamichael Hallman is making adventures leap right off the pages of the public library. His passion for public spaces and their power to bring communities together is palpable. He shares the exciting details of the Cossitt Public Library renovation as part of the Reimagining Civic Commons project, and the impact of his 2020 TEDxMemphis talk to impact not only our city and our country, but people around the world!
Listen in on this extended-cut episode of what aired live on...2021-02-091h 14
Oh my POD!Revivalist Conversations: Community TransformationShamichael Hallman discusses what's happening in his downtown Memphis, Tenn., community since George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis, Minn.
Discover three things the church must do to transform and sustain a healthy, vibrant, non-racist community going forward. Learn the obstacles. What is he doing to transform his community and as many local neighborhoods as possible through a major library project. Yes, I said library.
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The Revivalist News NetworkRevivalist Conversations: Community TransformationShamichael Hallman discusses what's happening in his downtown Memphis, Tenn., community since George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis, Minn. Discover three things the church must do to transform and sustain a healthy, vibrant, non-racist community going forward. Learn the obstacles. What is he doing to transform his community and as many local neighborhoods as possible through a major library project. Yes, I said library.SUPPORT GOOD NEWSSubscribe today! Check out goodies for various subscription levels.Visit https://www.patreon.com/TheRevivalistNewsNetwork2020-06-2535 min
TheoTech PodcastUnleashing Creativity and Collaboration in the Church by Learning from Hackathons (feat. Shamichael Hallman)How can pastors activate and engage techies? What can churches learn from Christian hackathons? What's the key to great collaboration? How do you prevent burnout?
In this episode, Pastor Shamichael Hallman shares his experience as an early leader of Code for the Kingdom, a movement and event that's activated thousands of people to use their gifts and passions to advance God's Kingdom. Listen as he shares exciting new ways for the Church to engage its members and communities.2017-11-1737 min