Speakers

President’s Program - Libraries and the Communities We Build Together: Celebrating Impact and Inspiring Action
October 19, 2025, 3:30 – 4:45 p.m.

Shamichael Hallman, Director of Civic Health and Economic Opportunity, Urban Libraries Council

Join us to hear Shamichael Hallman present Libraries and the Communities We Build Together: Celebrating Impact and Inspiring Action for the President’s Program! Hallman is the Director of Civic Health and Economic Opportunity at the Urban Libraries Council in Washington, D.C. and a former Loeb Fellow at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. As an author, changemaker, and civic innovator who believes in strengthening communities through equity, engagement, and creative problem solving, his work allows him to develop partnerships and projects on a national scale. His work has allowed him to develop public dialogues on race and religion, digital inclusion, and fostering cross-sector collaborations. Shamichael Hallman has previously lectured at institutions such as Harvard University and Rutgers University.

As the author of Meet Me at the Library, Shamichael Hallman will help us Raise Library Spirits at the President’s Program by celebrating the impact librarians have on their communities. His work focuses on the ability of libraries to foster universal civic learning, bridge divides, and empower communities through advancing equity, preserving culture, and nurturing inclusive and resilient spaces. The goal is to uplift the future of libraries through a renewed appreciation of their essential roles and inspiration to their larger communities. Copies of Shamichael's book will be available for purchase at the PaLA Conference Store.