Bring Traveling Civil War Exhibit to Your Library

The ALA Public Programs Office, in partnership with the National Constitution Center and the National Endowment for the Humanities, is accepting online applications for a large-scale tour of the traveling exhibition "Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War" through May 5 at www.ala.org/civilwarprograms. Eligible institutions include but are not limited to public, research and special libraries; historical societies; museums; civic, community and heritage organizations; and institutes of higher learning. Funding for the exhibition and tour is provided by a major grant from NEH.

Using the U.S. Constitution as its cohesive thread, "Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War" offers a fresh and innovative perspective on the Civil War that brings into focus the constitutional crises at the heart of this great conflict. The exhibition identifies these crises—the secession of the Southern states, slavery and wartime civil liberties—and explores how Lincoln sought to meet these political and constitutional challenges.

Two hundred sites will be selected to host the 1,000 square foot exhibition for a period of six weeks each from September 2011 through May 2015. Each site will receive a $750 grant to support expenses related to exhibition programming. Participating institutions are expected to present at least two free public programs featuring a lecture or discussion by a qualified scholar on exhibition themes. All showings of the exhibition must be free and open to the public.

"Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War" is supported by NEH's We the People initiative, which aims to stimulate and enhance the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture. For more information, including project guidelines, programming resources and the online application, visit www.ala.org/civilwarprograms.