ALA, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum announce extension of ‘Americans and the Holocaust’ traveling exhibition tour, starting in 2028, to 50 more libraries

CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA), in collaboration with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, announced the continuation of its important traveling exhibition Americans and the Holocaust, an exploration of the motives, pressures and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, war, and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. 

Following a highly successful tour to 100 libraries from 2021 to 2026, the exhibition will travel to 50 additional public and academic (i.e., college and university) libraries across the United States.

“With the expansion of this tour, we have a remarkable opportunity to engage visitors in learning about the responses of individuals, institutions, and the U.S. government, as well as exploring how the events of the war and the Holocaust affected American communities,” said Gretchen Skidmore, director of education initiatives at the Museum. 

Interested libraries are encouraged to sign up to learn more about the exhibition and receive email updates about the tour and application deadlines. Applications for the 2028 to 2030 tour will open in spring 2027. 

Selected libraries will receive:

• The 1,100-square-foot exhibition on loan for six weeks;
• A stipend to support public programs;
• Expenses paid for a library staff member to attend an orientation workshop;
• Publicity materials, programming resources, ongoing support from the Museum and the ALA, and more.

The exhibition, which includes text panels and multimedia elements of primary sources from the 1930s and ’40s, examines the U.S. response to Nazism, war, and genocide in Europe during the period. It encourages self-reflection and critical thinking about the various factors that shaped attitudes and actions during that moment of crisis and the factors that influence us today. 

"We at ALA are pleased to continue our impactful collaboration with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum," said Maria McCauley, ALA president. "The Americans and the Holocaust tour will provide important opportunities for people across the country to learn about and reflect on the history and lessons learned of the Holocaust through a world-class museum, all in their own community or campus library."

Host libraries from previous Americans and the Holocaust tours reported that the exhibition sparked meaningful reflection and dialogue in their communities. “Personally and professionally, this is the most important work I’ve done in 38 years of being a librarian,” said Sarah Rosenblum, Marshalltown (Iowa) Public Library director, of the exhibition and the corresponding programs hosted at the library in 2022.

Academic libraries also found the exhibition to be a powerful teaching tool. Reflecting on his time with the exhibition, Adam Clemons, a librarian at the University of Mississippi, said, “People tend to think of the Holocaust within the context of Nazi Germany and Europe, as something distant and far away, with clear perpetrators and victims. This traveling exhibition challenged people to think about how news was conveyed and covered during the war, and what Americans did, on a local level.”

To learn more, watch this short video about the impact of the exhibition on communities nationwide. 

Americans and the Holocaust was made possible by the generous support of lead sponsor Jeannie & Jonathan Lavine. Additional major funding was provided by the Bildners—Joan & Allen z”l, Elisa Spungen & Rob, Nancy & Jim; and Jane & Daniel Och. This exhibition is part of the Museum's Milton and Tamar Maltz Exhibition Program and is also supported by the Lester Robbins and Sheila Johnson Robbins Traveling and Special Exhibitions Fund, established in 1990.

About the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

A nonpartisan, federal educational institution, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is America’s national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust dedicated to ensuring the permanence of Holocaust memory, understanding and relevance. Through the power of Holocaust history, the Museum challenges leaders and individuals worldwide to think critically about their role in society and to confront antisemitism and other forms of hate, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. For more information, visit ushmm.org.

About the American Library Association 

The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit ala.org. 

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