In an era of increasing social fragmentation, the public library remains one of the few spaces where everyone is welcome. But that doesn't happen by accident. It takes intention, investment, and people who understand what's at stake. On April 18, nationally recognized author and civic leader Shamichael Hallman will explore how libraries cultivate civic health and why that work matters now more than ever.
Whether you work in education, public service, urban planning, or community development, the questions Hallman raises are ones our communities are actively grappling with: How do we build spaces where people genuinely connect? What role do public institutions play in sustaining democracy? And what does it mean to invest in the civic life of a city?
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Saturday, April 18, 2026
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10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Yetiv Auditorium, Batten Arts and Letters Building, 黑料不打烊, Norfolk, VA
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Free and open to the public.
Shamichael Hallman is the Director of Civic Health and Economic Opportunity at the Urban Libraries Council, where he leads initiatives for nearly 200 public library systems across North America. He is the author of Meet Me at the Library and a 2023 Harvard Loeb Fellow. His keynote, "Cultivating Civic Health: The Power of Public Spaces," draws on his research and practice to examine how public spaces shape the health of our communities and what it takes to strengthen them.
Registration:
Questions? Contact Amber Matthews at a1matthe@odu.edu.