Boston Public Library

The Boston Public Library will develop a sustainable partnership with the Museum of Afro-American History, using the upcoming 200th anniversary of the birth of abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison (2005) and the bicentennial of the African Meeting House in Boston (2006) as focal points for exhibits. The goals of "Intersections" are (1) to demonstrate that an overlapping area in collections can lead partners to collaborative programming that will increase the capacity of both institutions to address their missions; (2) to create learning opportunities that illuminate the Abolitionist Movement in New England and to attract audiences to understand it in new ways; and (3) to disseminate information about Intersections that shows how it has addressed current library/museum issues, offers assistance to other museums and libraries in using the project model, and describes a vision for potential change in the field. Major activities include (1) developing and implementing collaborative management, marketing, program, evaluation, and plans; (2) mounting three exhibits celebrating abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison and the African Meeting House; (3) developing, maintaining, and refreshing a Web site that will serve as an online version of the exhibits; and (4) engaging in educational outreach through a downloadable Web-based teacher's guide that is integrated with curriculum standards.