Lens of Literacy: The Global Library Project by Robert Dawson and Ellen Manchester seeks to document, in photographs and videos, the important role of public libraries throughout the world in engaging and supporting an informed citizenry by providing unrestricted access to information, offering literacy and educational support, and advocating for free and uncensored speech. The shared commons of a public library is one of the last non-commercial public spaces we have in our global society. Of particular interest to the project is how social, cultural, historic and political issues have shaped a library’s role in the community. Work from the project will be presented in a series of traveling exhibitions, videos, public programs, panel discussions, and publications.
In 2022, Robert Dawson presented this work in partnership with the San Francisco Public Library and the National Library of Israel, Jerusalem.