Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World - A Traveling Exhibition for Libraries

FAIN: LI-50069-06

ALA (Chicago, IL 60611-2729)
Susan E. Brandehoff (Project Director: February 2006 to July 2013)

Funding details:
Original grant (2006) $270,000.00
Supplement (2008) $179,618.00

Implementation of a traveling panel exhibition, related public programming, training, and companion digital and curricular materials about the life of Benjamin Franklin and his contributions to the founding of the United States, to circulate to 30 sites nationwide.

The American Library Association proposes the creation of a photo-panel traveling exhibition, "Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World," based upon a major exhibition developed by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, a consortium of academic institutions in Philadelphia, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Franklin's birth (1706-2006). The 1,000-square foot traveling exhibition will educate audiences in 30 U.S. communities about the life and works of Franklin, focusing on the breadth of his interests and accomplishments and on the complex man behind the myths. The project features an array of educational materials supporting the exhibition and a planning workshop for libraries on the tour, with presentations by the curator, exhibit designer, and librarians with experience in public programming. A site support notebook for libraries will feature program ideas, speaker lists, bibliographies, film lists, exhibit set up instructions, and other aids for tour libraries.