Transcripts For CSPAN2 The 20240704

First African American to the national library. Dr. Louise bernard is a senior president at the Obama Foundation and the founding director of, the obama president ial center museum. She previously served as director of exhibitions at the new york Public Library, as curator of prose and drama for the yale collection of, American Literature at the bennett rare book and Manuscript Library at Yale University and as assistant professor of english at georgetown university. As curator of, prose and drama for the yale collection of American Literature at the beinecke rare book and Manuscript Library at Yale University. And as assistant professor of english at georgetown. Chicago Public Library commissioner chris brown is passionate about redefining what Public Libraries can bring to the communities serve. Brown came to see in 2021 after more than a decade serving in california and districts, he is currently spearheading collaboration with neighborhood safety groups, city departments and outside partners in order to establish safe spaces for youth. And now, please welcome to the stage dr. Carla hayden. Dr. Louise bernard and commissioner chris brown. Well, this is exciting. Im im going to try not to fanboy out too much. Well, and with dr. Bernard too and both of you and i was just saying we were saying backstage that president obama and first lady have been supporters of libraries. Theyve both spoken at American Library association conferences. And so were so pleased to get a sneak peek. Absolutely. Of something thats really, really citing the i had a chance to coming in to chicago to pass by the site of the new president ial center and its impressive. Could you tell us a little bit about really what i was seeing . Because it was a structure thats like eight stories high right in the middle of right by the museum of science and industry. And it looks phenomenal. So. Dr. Oh, thank you, dr. Hayden and hello, everyone. Its wonderful to join you today at alma with my colleague chris brown from the chicago Public Library as dr. Was saying, the obama president ial center is situated on the south side. Chicago is currently under construct, so its rapidly coming out of the ground. And i think people can really see what a truly exciting and phenomenal project this is and will be all to say. The center, the president ial center is situated on 20 acres of historic jackson park adjacent. The museum of science and industry, as you mentioned. But also adjacent to the university of chicago. And its rooted in community. And there are three key communities that we will serve. So we about woodlawn, we think about washington park, which is where the desalvo of africanamerican history is, and also south shore is where mrs. Obama was born and raised. So the story that we tell at the center is rooted in and very specifically on the south of this great metropolis. Its a national story. Its the story of the nations 44th president , the nations first black president , the first black family in the white house. And its also a global story it has this international reach. And so we think about the center has been a really dynamic hub. It is a catalyst for change as many people may know, the Obama Foundations mission is to inspire, empower and connect people to change their world. And we can talk a lot about what literacy means within that kind of a framework. But the center is also part of what we would like to think of as a civic commons. And this is where Public Libraries are so important to. Our mission. But we think about the way in which there is a museum which as you mentioned, will be this vertical structure is connected to a building that we call the forum, which is where all the multipurpose spaces are. And then we have the branch of the chicago Public Library, which well talk more about obviously. And then a fourth building, which is an athletic center. And so this is all tied to the idea of health and wellness to idea of sustainability. It is a revitalization of this historic park and so we think about democratic space making again to come back to the important kind of social infrastructure work museums do within the idea of democracy itself. But i also mentioned that there is great lawn, theres an accessibly designed playground and theres a fruit and vegetable garden is a version of the white house kitchen garden. There were beautiful walkways. And again, were connecting the park is currently bisected by canal drive. Were connecting it to the lagoon and to the lake beyond. So it really is vibrant hub of activity and really ensuring that it is a key amenity and an asset for our local residents. Even as we expect hundreds of thousands tourists, people from across the greater chicagoland area, across the country, around the world to visit as every year. So that is the in a nutshell and happy to delve into this a little bit deeper and you can see those words inspire to empower. And what was the other one . Connect and connect it yes in bold letters surrounding the the workspace and its so impressive and idea of having been a Chicago Public im a little prejudiced so think thats a good idea but to have a home like library rooted in will people okay heres the Million Dollar question people are going to ask can they take out books . You can take out books. You will be able to check out books. But i think theres also this really incredible for libraries that this branch represents to have a National Leader figure like the obamas choose to build center, but to include a Public Library in that space. Were going to be having all of our Library Communities leaders are going to be visiting this, right . Were going to be getting millions of visitors, leaders from across our country and around the world are going to be seeing this Learning Center and seeing that this leader in our country is signaling the importance of libraries as part of that ecosystem and Learning Space. And so i think everyone going back to their communities is going to be also thinking, oh, were developing either a Learning Space or a Learning Center or theres this Development Taking place in our community. Should we be thinking about a library in this space . So i think i mean, something incredible for chicago and for the obamas, but i think it also means something as a example and and model for the rest of the country. So it is the okay. Yes, this is the. So the other question that people will ask is how is the Center Different from or is it from a president ial library . Because thats something that comes it is and i think it is still a point of confusion for many people that we often refer president ial libraries, president ial museums. Those are generally entities that does collections which house steward the documents from a Given Administration as well as often many gifts that were objects that were gifted to the first lady to to the president an administration those they live within the National Archives. So that the National Archives are the custody and the stewards of those materials, which is the same for what is referred as a barack obama president ial library. But that is actually the archive. I think the thing that is complex to it is that the presidency that is, you know, the main kind of thrust of this particular story is also the story of the nations First Digital president. It is that which means that the majority, 95 of those president ial records were born digital without paper equivalents. That means that the president wanted to ensure that in building the center this complex that we were giving over as much real estate as possible to every day people hence partnering with the chicago Public Library system, it means that scholars and for researchers and interested readers who want to really delve into the history of this administration, those materials is Still Available through the National Archives, the Obama Foundation is helping to digitize the remaining. 5 of those textual records, the unclassified records. That still means some 26 million pages to be digitized. And as everyone in this room knows, digitization alone is not one in the same with access. We still need to ensure then that those materials fully accessible through digital so that where we partner with the National Archives for those textual records as well as some 30,000 objects belong to the National Archives and we will be borrowing from those collections to display those materials at the museum. So its a new model of a president ial library in which engaging the cpo, where literally unpacking the traditional understanding of what a president ial library can be, while still ensuring in partnership with the National Archives that scholars have access to, those unclassified documents i looked up stuff library and they have a website now the Obama Library dot gov which has a lot of information the library part and, the archives and things like that and they theyre building stuff up and doing that. So you mentioned the museum. So whats going to be in the museum you know, so the museum will really be the anchor of the center. And again we can talk more the relationship with with the library itself with the chicago Public Library. But the museum main kind of narrative arc tells a story of the the 44th president of the united barack obama, that president obama really wanted to ensure that the story the administration and its a work two terms was really embedded in a nuanced contextual history of american democracy. The process and practice of american democracy and that any idea of progress, as we know in this country is not linear. Theres a push and pull around. The idea of progress. But he wanted people to understand that his story is seemingly unique and phenomenal in so many ways. But he began life as a community organizer, chicago and so that hes able to offer up a kind of case study of what it means to live a life of Public Service. But that life of Public Service made possible because of all of the people who had gone before. So we have a concept around on his we stand, which is to that we think about the progressive movement, some milestones that really made that moment into thousandeight possible it was a watershed obviously a Pivotal Moment in this nations history. But we also saw a very radical pendulum swing between 2008 and 2016. And so we want people to understand that that didnt come out of nowhere, that that is rooted in history of this nation. And so unlike many other president style libraries or museums, we really have to think about what we would call the counternarrative, which is the history of race and racism in this country, to think about the history around progressive movements that push pull that progress, to think about popular ism and what would now frame as white supremacy. These are very difficult concepts and theyre going to be in the museum. They will be recognized. Well, the story of this particular president , as well as all of the questions around Decision Making and that no one president can accomplish everything within a given term, within a Given Administration. So its helping people to see the really difficult and complex history that the president had to grapple with. He was a wartime president at that, you know, inherited two wars in iraq, afghanistan. We about the issues around health care, the economic crisis that he walked into in again he inherited in 2008. But theres also we joke about the fun and the grind. So we show the grind, the hard of those two terms. But we also show the fun, the levity, the joy the grace and dignity of this particular lady and president. We wanted to ensure that mrs. Obamas story was not a decorative set piece. Everyone will want to see her dresses, of course, and does all the dresses be there . The dresses will be on display in all of their glory. But again, that that story as much as it is about the beauty of this first lady and her elegance, its also a story about the way in which she was able to lift up diverse emerging designers. Designers of color, how every time she engaged with designers ensured that there was an educational workshop at the white house engaging with young people always, theres a sense sartorial diplomacy about the designers that she wore both at home and abroad. And so thats a way in to really understanding the broader expansive beauty of that particular story. We talk about president and mrs. Obamas global travels. We talk about life at the white house, all the amazing events that happened in that space and also how they opened up the white house more people than ever before. It really is the peoples house. Then we talk about the living legacy of the president , saying the passing the baton, so to speak, to future generations of young changemakers. So the work of the foundation is ongoing work and we think about the Pivotal Moment of the president s farewell address when he asked everyone again, step up into the role of, quote unquote, to really the work forward. There is lots of work to be done. As we all know. And i think what were were excited to be working on with the center, looking at our Public Library space and a lot of the spaces that the audience will have in their libraries. So many of us have our Makerspace Makerspace is or sound recording studios, but i think finding ways to play off of that obama narrative as Community Organizers really thinking about how that makerspace can be used to literally make space in your community, make your protest posters thinking about their role as authors, and thinking about journaling stations that we can set up so that people, as they come into the library, are thinking about themselves, their own authorship, their own agency, which we know they already do, but think it lets us tie a through line to the obamas story and what we do in libraries as well. So what will the branch be called . We have i dont think weve totally settled on that. Okay. Im it will be i dont know. But i kind of suspect in the Obama Library weve weve kind of moved from naming libraries after okay we have a few that are named for gary coleman and a good few others whats a regional. One but i think we have to make an exception for this one and and were just to have it. Yeah. And it would so much i think to have a Public Library named after me. So little spaces and so behind the i mean the audience should know they were doing work while they were waiting to go out. And i heard them talking about meeting with the programing committee and things like that. So how is how was what is going on . What were some of the spaces that louise mentioned, the form the garden that will be above the obama branch, outdoor greenspace and kind of the childrens play area. Well weve been really talking about is not just how libraries activate our spaces inside the branch, which we know we all do, all learning that we provide opportunity for. I think weve moved as a field into activation outside of our doors, our work with partners, our work in outreach and i think whats unique about this branch is well be able to literally work with their programing teams to activate that form to think about who do we want bring in as speakers you know, on that green line, what kind of movies do we want to show together in collaboration that highlight the story where were together . You mentioned garden on top. I know you have Harold Washington library has the winter garden. The winter garden. So could you tell us a little bit more then about the physical space of this branch . Because it sounds like going to be something. Yeah. So the garden above the branch, the president ial garden, you know, weve been thinking about how we have this synergy between the Library Space and that rooftop garden. Its going to be run by the chicago botanical garden. So another partnership. But thinking the things that libraries already do like our seed lending libraries and how people when they come to Library Locations and go to that rooftop garden, are able to then pick up those seeds, think about replicating their own gardens, their own Healthy Eating in their their own space. So the first ladys Initiative Event like that, now they dont have to return the seeds. No. Okay. Im just, you know. See, let you know youre going to sometimes be specific. You also have your connection to chicago, of course, as a as former chief librarian. With us or you were very kind to bring they went in the archives beforehand and brought out photos from for hairdos ago and a lot of pounds but you know that activism because Chicago Public has cold located other things with it could you just share some that yeah weve had this really thinking model about how we utilize our libraries to colocate with Affordable Housing so former mayor rahm emanuel and former brian bannon really led that innovation and its evolved into including Child Care Centers and. Just this year, weve been able to announce two more libraries in back of the yards in West Garfield Park that evolved that colocation model. So its not simply a library with Affordable Housing. Its also including a Health Care Center space for Community Advocacy groups, space for nonprofits, retail. So its not simply bringing resources to people need them. Its literally revitalizing corridors of our city and really building a Critical Mass of reinvestment. So very excited for that model and. Then were getting to explore this now with with opc and really, i think in this model, again, its that idea of how libraries can activate our spaces outside of our buildings and in partnership and so i should note dr. Had and were actually on a third commissioner since starting work on this project i joined the Obama Foundation in 2017. So we worked with commissioner bannon, as chris mentioned, commission itself and now with chris. But i think this has been a wonderful opportunity for you, chris, to really think what the library of the future can be. Obviously we are a relatively small branch, relatively small footprint, about 5000 square feet. But it is connected to this broader center, to this civic commons as well, to other Branch Libraries in the adjoining neighborhoods. So it has that kind of dynamic to it, but weve been able to work with Margaret Sullivan, her wonderful design studio, really thinking the design of the space which is connected, that Design Thinking is connected to the very idea of activation. And again, how we inspire and then empower people. And i think it is very much about the tools and resources that we give people to make change or to understand how they can make change in their communities and. At the same time, even a way lifting up values based leadership and we run a number of programs regionally around the world, we want to meet people where they are. We assume that not Everyone Wants to be president of the free world, but they may be ways in which every small thing really adds up to something. And so its the small radical acts that means the museums and libraries are so good it really helping people to understate and to see and understand kind of their place in the world. That is very much about the activation. And what they were doing is that one of the reasons why that will pkm giving the lingo now the president ial sense yes that it was important to partner with a public to to really open it up and chris can certainly speak more to Program Strategies but we also wanted to carve out a space within this particular branch that what currently in loosely calling the president s reading. So we wanted to engage with the idea of a special collection needs, but its really more of a kind of reference room in which we will have a non circulating in this in partnership with the circulates in collection, but a non circulating collection of reference books that really speak to all of the themes and issues that we with in the storytelling in the museum. So if a young person doing their homework, you know theyre writing book report on the Affordable Care act or the question of health care in the u. S. This is a place where can really dig into material that helps to illustrate that story. So were thinking about a curated collection, thinking about the history of chicago, the history of the black metropolis, thinking about all of the themes and issues within the two terms of the administer nation, thinking about values, basically shape civic engagement, community building, work, even thinking about the artists that we will have at the center and monographs. Their work. Ill just give for an example one of the artists that weve announced is the wonderful chicago luminary richard hunt, the sculptor. Oh, my. Its just been wonderful to work with. With richard, whos, as i understand it, his mother and sister were librarians to chicago Public Library system. And so we have a beautiful sculpture. Its called book bird, which is a bird emerging out of the book, which will be in the reading courtyard. Theres a lovely courtyard attached to the branch. So again, thinking about how the arts also activate and engage and inspire people. And i think were were also thinking about how as tourist sites and locals and chicagoans, these millions of visitors are going to the museum. What also them to the library as well. And im super excited about that president ial reading room and thinking about what kind of content can even reflect obamas experience and, their family as a voracious readers and all that theyve done to signal their reading journey and whats influence them and people getting to get that insight. And it really becoming a destination to kind of get window into the obamas as readers. Right. And that would be wonderful to see what. Were the books that influenced them . Yes. And thats its a great point that raises because we have a president who is himself a writer as well as a producer now. So very much engage with the arts broadly, but began early in his career with a memoir, dreams from my father, his president ial memoir will be in two volumes. As we know, the first volume, just a mere 800 pages long. And what is that coming out now . Volume two in the next year or so, i hope next year is going to be a very busy year. I think as were all aware. But hopefully volume soon. But a Promised Land certainly again speaking to the president as reader, writer, thinker and so lecture saying the importance of reading the president s Summer Reading lists his end of year and ensuring people have access to those volumes. Well, as those volumes in translation, which i be really excited to see, even mrs. Obama i mean, one of her first kind of post house kind of reflections of who she was as a person was to write a memoir. Becoming which was in and of itself just truly phenomenal. I mean, packing out huge venues, engaging people in new ways through her storytelling and the importance of storytelling. So yes, certainly the of literacy writ large was im smiling because she that that was when she appeared the American Library association to debut that. Yeah and it was just electrifying to have her and i remember that was to have her here so programing this is the question that wants to know will president do time okay he did it for our life for the okay i think were i think well have it all you gotta hes going to do it. Well i feel like theres going to be many many hopefully opportunities to have him signal his readers and i dont know what the protocol is yet were going to figure it out. The book selection should be very and the music selection. Right. Because they also have their music was in their movie was. And i think thats going to be a chance for us to to really think about how we drive visitors, explore, explore those recommendations, explore their reading journey. We also know this is going to be space that draws in so much tourism for our city. Its going to, i think, to a great for the south side for the exploration of chicago and so were also thinking about what kind of collections can we offer and what kind of Technology Innovations we see in libraries like popo digital, right, where you have that content you can immediately access and thinking about these tourists coming to visit the south side and being able to immediately those ebooks about touring the city of chicago so they can really explore our city. And so were also thinking about what Innovative Library solutions are out there so that we can uplift the mission of this space and the experience that people have. And youre going to have a good museum shop. Answer we will have the most amazing retail that i, i can guarantee. Yes, its probably going to be quite something. People will be there. Theyre going to go away and everything. What about the relationship with Community Groups on the south side . Because you mentioned that thats a focus. But have they been involved with some of the planning or how do you and you were mentioning Margaret Sullivan studios, who has been working us on designing the interior. I know i. Know shes out there somewhere. So. Margaret, hey, shout out to Margaret Sullivan. All right, margaret. Thank you. So part of our process has been also to work with the president ial center team and bring in leaders in that neighborhood and surrounding area to really hear from them about what theyre hoping for from this space, whats their aspiration for what this branch could be for them. And one of the resound messages that we heard was, dont just bring in presenters or speakers or authors or programmers. Look to the neighborhood because theres so much wealth talent in woodlawn in, hyde park in the surrounding area that they feel like they can bring to us. And so i think its going to be an incredibly integrated program programing strategy, just a chance to uplift the genius. Chicago yeah. And i would add to that. So were doing lot of work right now around media, the museum, the Media Production process, working with our media producers. We have linear media narrative storytelling pieces as well as Interactive Media where we can really engage with their input, their reflections is one of the spaces that we have created. It is actually a civics primus space. Thinking about the impulse, the importance of civics education, how government works, how a bill becomes a law. Those kinds of issues. But in order to think about civics education, i was really drawn to the idea of the graphic novel because. We know that comic books, cartoons can engage learners of all ages. Its a way to pair the visual with the written. And so weve engaged a cartoonist whos also a historian, Joel Christie and gail, who will be creating a three dimensional comic book graphic novel brought to life, which will tell the story of of the founding understanding of civics in the us. Theres wonderful media piece which we used to loosely, loosely call schoolhouse rock as opposed to schoolhouse rock when i calling it civics mixtape, but also say there will be a series of animated vignettes which are also bringing forward the story civics. But the media producers worked with focus groups, including a kind of you city focus group. And before we had told them anything about obama president ial center, we said loosely what this thing would be and what they want to see there. And the first thing they said was comic books then you know nothing about the civics primacy base, but theyre so interested in this idea of printed matter, in the idea of kind of activating and, animating in a way the importance of literacy itself. And thats something that they gravitated towards, was the idea of the comic book. But again, i think that interaction with focus groups to help us really think the programing because we always have to meet the patron where are we always have to understand that we cannot preach to people that there to be much more of a two way interaction around anything that is didactic and there is so much that we can learn from our consumers of this story. And if this project i mentioned teens will there be teen or oh i mean chicago or media programing just all the alumni that have come out of that chance the rapper and no name and saba and nick jenkins so theres just going to be a recording studio. Its a wonderful part of our dna. But again, to that idea of activating space outside our locations. I know the obama president ial center will also have a much larger, robust recording studio. So weve been thinking about that being sort of the the gateway to more just tools and resources so people can get there, their foot in the water, you know, start to practice their skills as other kind of podcast creators or creating their own music and then grad you way into the larger the larger studio with just more bells and whistles. So there is a small you media kind of space within the graduate school to have a media suite in the foreign and theres also a story booth on the last level of the Museum Experience but then there are all of the new media capacities and capabilities in the other branches as well. And then being able to partner with other initiatives on the ground in chicago are already doing really great work around podcasting and, helping people understand studio practices example. So i think it will be that kind, harnessing all of those resources and every piece kind of this large chicago project. What about the Public School system and that well, hopefully coordination. You were probably trying to work on this too when you were here. Just this past year, weve developed a new agreement with cps Public Schools where weve reduced the barrier to get their card. So now they dont have to come in with their parent and show id, they just share what schools around. They immediately get their car. They can immediately. Five items they can get all of our econ ten, every single Chicago Public School Teacher is getting an e access cards. They get all their inclassroom access and thats called our club 81. So thats going to be our strategy for 81 branches. Yes, yes but we have 82. So we had to we had a name in something. So hope you didnt print much about it, you know, just saying, you know, keep it keep it digital. But that that relationship is good to share because that, you know, systems have so much they have to deal with and be responsible for apps and have that breakthrough. This is sounds like this is going to really help help a lot to do that so where are we with timeline now again you mentioned the physical what yeah well all systems go as youve seen dr. Hayden construction rapidly moving and so were looking at the end of 2025 is is the goal for for opening and branch everything will open at the same thats the goal were im hoping were even maybe you know i think a few things do you think its going to have some as it gets closer youll have some preview programing and things. Yeah we think that preop ning activations and initiatives really important and so weve been thinking about the kinds of engagements that we can have before we physically open our doors so people understand the kinds of programs that well offer. But weve also had the opportunity to partner with different initiatives on the ground. As chris will know, the os, many people will know the obama portraits went on tour from the National Portrait gallery. Their first stop was in chicago at the at the Art Institute. So we were able to partner with the Art Institute through our community engagements, through the the Obama Community engagements to kind of drive audiences to see the portraits. And the Art Institute was actually able to measure that impact that they were seeing visitors from zip codes who dont normally attend exhibitions shows at the Art Institute. So were able to do that kind of work. We also partnered with gates, who is a wellknown artist based in chicago with rebuild foundation. He had a display of rob pruitt, saw obama paintings on view, as was 2018, 2019. And so we launched our Community Collections gathering events at rebuilt foundation, which is where we invited local to bring objects that were connected to the obama story in some way that had particular meaning to them. We documented their objects and their stories oral histories very important as we know we took wonderful still of People Holding their objects and then we since been able to acquire some those materials for our collection and they will be on display in the museum. So crowdsourcing and really thinking about the importance of material culture as it connects to storytelling is work that weve been able to do. And i think to remind people that museums arent always about the priceless treasures. They can be about everyday objects that are meaningful in a different but equally valued laden way. So really rethinking and unpacking the importance material culture as well. Speaking of material culture, one of the features that people think about these president ial museums is, you know, a recreation, the oval office. So will there be a twist on that . I think our twist is that the replica of the oval office that we will have will be youll be able to fully engage with it. Youll go in. You can into this full row. You sit on the couch. We want take some for you. You can touch to all of apples. Yes. Yeah. But to have a kid be able to sit at the resolute desk and to think about what that means, this replica of the resolute desk. But everything will be touchable and people will be able to fully engage with that space and take photos and to take oh, my gosh, can you get to fully understand the operational aspects of what that means . It really obviously want to spend hours in there. And as a museum, we have to think about dwell time. Im going to through part and moving people along. But yes, we want people to be able to oval offices often either contain real objects in there for, you know, things are kind of behind velvet ropes or theyre only a portion of actual size of the oval. But this be a full, full scale replica. Wow. With all of the artwork and evidence of the artwork which also rotated. So were interested in thinking new technologies, thinking about art, mixed reality, being able to engage people through what is on the wall, but what changed during the time the president was in office . So im just thinking about to shop again, you know, so you can have postcards with the artwork. I love music myself, so i do this one. I just cant wait really. After my first doll and along with the cafe food and beverage, will there be a cafe . There will be a wonderful restaurant which will be kind of cafeteria style. And then there will be a cafe because coffee is very important, but a cafe kind of grab and go and we imagine pop up kiosks around the campus. So yeah, that will be its going to be lovely and just something thats going to bring everyone in, i think. So its going to be our Smallest Library branch, but probably the most visible right . Yeah. What about ours of operation . Have you been. I know youve been grappling with that. Yeah, i think were going to were going to try and match other so that anyone thats coming to the obama center gets also visit the library and vice versa. Okay so evenings and weekends and its like seven days a week pretty much. Yeah. Yeah, were looking at seven days a week and thatll be interesting. Were all now probably as we were, seven days, we could see people graduations. Thank you. Congrats relations. Well, i as i said, im personally excited. I know everyone else is excited and. Its just such a wonderful model and we congratulate to everyone involved. We appreciate you being here because we are opening it up. We have time for a few questions or comment yes. And there are people think with microphones or there are microphones already set up. I really cant. So. Oh, there they are. Hello. With a spotlight. Hi, dr. Hayden. And distinguished guests, as someone who has lovingly run urban Library Branches for about 25 years in another city, i have i have a couple of common comments. The first that hits me is this seems like an extraordinary opportunity to reconceive of the librarian, manager and and staff position within this library, both to serve as ambassadors and. Hosts. If will, to welcome the broader library or using community into the this extraordinary, truly high level, high concept, highly model of progressive imagined ngs, if you will, of not only what our country can be, but what the access to information pipeline can be. That said, youre also looking at i, im assuming, providing summer lunches and having busloads of children come through. One of the first branch i managed for about ten years was a 55,000 square foot carnegie building, which i affectionately referred to as running a library, a bar and a daycare. At the same time. My concept is that i just have a comment on that from a logistic standpoint because i think it sounds like you really have a fabulous staffing opportunity to reimagine how. We do our work within this wonderful new context my other concept is or comment is there seems also to be an extraordinary opportunity for Workforce Development with working. Speaking of young people to bring in and to working within this, whether thats in a volunteer capacity or on a paid page position or as young ambassadors, you will, because other piece that as we know the role and especially michelle obama, the first lady, was extraordinarily articulate in describing becoming is that from a socioeconomic educational perspective of people young people coming from the south side of chicago and then being expected to go into the workforce of a larger more, highly educated venue and and not necessarily having the background of those social cultural language, if you will, to make that jump. And it sounds to me like this is a perfect opportunity in bringing those young people from chicago via, the gateway of this small branch, into this extraordinary and that would also retire and the wonderful work that both of the obamas have done with young people and envisioning for development of young people. So thats all i got. You know, i think i think youre absolutely right. The how people come our library is how they start their careers with us. It needs to be very accessible working chicago. Its one of those systems where i we we have done such an incredible job of growing people people going to our city colleges, people going to chicago state and. I think thats something that were going to continue to to do. And to the point about, what does that Branch Leadership like . Absolutely. Its a bit its a bit different because theyre not just managing that location. Theyre managing relationships with the programing staff, their facility team. So we absolutely need to rethink what were looking it. I think its a little bit more of an leadership position and more of a Relationship Management role. Would also be related to ship with the ideals and ideas of the obama center too that there youre going to be looking for staff that are basically feel the same. Yes i think so i will note that we are a nonpartisan entity. One of the kind of key areas of work that the library is able to do is to help think about the importance of fact based information, but also the of dialog across different to be open to different perspectives to think about civil discourse i think will be incredibly important going forward. But yes we imagine that many people be of like mine so to speak around progressive ideas. And we know that that were on the front lines of that means in terms of libraries at this moment in time. And i gather the progressive in your sense means inclusive, inclusive, inclusive across all forms right. Right. We have i think theres someone over on this side to step into the light a good morning. Im a public librarian. And so one of the i understand the aspect of the museum portion of, the center, what i was wondering about was two things. You said that this will be your smallest branch. How most . Lets see, how do you envision controlling people who are visiting the museum . They may want to also visit and utilize Public Library aspect and secondly, will the library also have a revenue stream to kind of coincide with the tourism of, the museum . Good question. I dont know about the revenue stream side, but i want to talk about the area. Thats a good thats a good idea. And but i think its its going to be one of the smaller locations. But its still 5000 square feet. And i think spaces that are similarly sized. Our flagship media and the herald Washington Library center that can still comedy many, many, many visitors throughout the course of a day and you have your use pattern trends and. I think were really going to have a chance to really learn as we open and test and look, what does the traffic feel like . We may need to talk about . You know, how do we guide people to the area and to the childrens and encourage more families and parents to to do their reading in those outdoor spaces, to to just accommodate the traffic but now will be a great challenge and if we are just overrun with visitors we might help which we get a lot of visitors. Yeah. At the library from all over. So she was people that can help that are coming in, theyre looking and then they leave. Theyre not really from there. They want to see with the libraries. So well do that. Good morning. I want to say good morning to all three of you. My name is michael rivera. I work with the d. C. Public library. Want to give a shout out to sister carla . So proud of you, sister. I like you. Im from the dmv. I live in the dmv. My question is to the. Have they already put people in place, work in this library . And if not, when will every job postings be open. He said, well, you are, but we have not we have not put someone in place yet. So as we figure out who were for, thats going to be a very visible recruitment. So we welcome all of you to throw your hat in here. I dont know if this really excites you and interest you and you resonate with those values of the obamas. All right. Thank. Theres someone right behind me. I think were going to have a we just resume. Youre going to have a lot of rhythm right. Hello. My name is dixon. And i do know from california. I work the Santa Clara County library district. And i am absolutely thrilled to hear about this entire center, what its going to do for the south side of the city. Because im a former chicago resident myself and thinking about our role as public librarians and serving our patrons, you know, how are you going to balance the of that local community and being able to use that branch and space and the programing that they need with the influx of tourists because 5000 square feet really isnt that big. So im just curious what your thoughts in that regard. No, its a really good question. Hey, karen, good to see there are two other branches within a five inner drive of obama side. And so were also really pleased because these developments also forcing the conversation about development in surrounding neighborhoods. So the neighborhood of woodlawn and the corridor of 63rd, which runs the way over and all the way to the opc site, that is also going to that Bessie Coleman branch is going to be getting a new location. So the city has Just Announced 50 Million Investment this past year to build a new Bessie Coleman. So it will be a more of like an eco system in that area. Theyll be the the Blackstone Branch and hyde park Bessie Coleman and the obama site. So well have well have three locations when this within this like five minute radius. So were really thrilled about that. Glad to see Bessie Coleman. I think we have time for one last question. Hello. Its my okay. Hi, im voletta simpson, director of Woodson Library for Chicago Public and hey, everybody, i just wanted to say we are recruiting right now 30 and so if you are interested in working a chicago Public Library in the we are recruiting in the exhibit hall and chris didnt that and i wanted to just add that thank you for to. All right. Shes looking out for me. Okay. Well, thank you again, both of you. Were so excited. We cant wait. And you will have of people that want to participate appreciate it, want to use you as a model, but also just get from what youre doing so. Thank you. And please think the and first lady for all of us. Well, you. Thank we delighted to welcome the honorable perez baroness catherine to join us today. She served as the european