Lester Public Library to host immigration exhibition

The American Library Association named Lester Public Library in Two Rivers one of 15 libraries in the country to host a museum-quality exhibition examining human migration. The new touring exhibit was developed by the American Anthropological Association and the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

Lester joins institutions including Houston, San Jose, and Kansas City, Kansas, public libraries in hosting the exhibition.

World on the Move: 250,000 Years of Human Migration aims to help people appreciate migration histories—their own and those of others—by drawing on case studies from across human history and the breadth of cultures.

The initiative cites among its main goals that visitors recognize that migration is a shared human experience, appreciate the complexity and diversity of migration stories, have the opportunity to share their own migration stories, and gain greater empathy towards migrants in their communities and elsewhere.

The Lester Public Library is host number seven of the tour. The exhibit will be in Two Rivers March 20-April 23.

The American tour ends in 2025 and the exhibit then moves on to locations in Europe.

The exhibit addresses four main questions: Where do we come from? Why do we move? How does migration change us? Where are we going? Visitors explore responses to these questions through narrative and interactive displays. It’s a very hands-on experience suitable for everyone, including school groups. Visitors as young as fourth graders will derive much from this exhibit. The library is offering additional activities for students while they’re here. Schools can also access supplemental resources.

The library extends an invitation to all individuals, organizations, clubs and schools in the region to visit. There is no cost to view the exhibit.

Large groups and school groups are asked to arrange visits in advance by contacting library director Jeff Dawson at (920)793-7104 or jdawson@lesterlibrary.org.

World on the Move: 250,00 Years of Human Migration was developed by the American Anthropological Association, together with the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, and Smithsonian Exhibits. It is administered by the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office.

Learn more about World on the Move. Visit Lester Public Library.