Americans and the Holocaust will be at USCL Aug. 19-Sept. 30, 2026
Upper Sandusky Community Library is one of 50 U.S. libraries selected to host Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibition from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Library Association (ALA) that examines the motives, pressures and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, war and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s.
“We are so proud to be selected from a competitive pool of applicants from all across the nation to host this important and powerful exhibition,” said Library Director Kathleen Whitt. “We encourage community members to come explore it, and we’re excited to be partnering with our local schools to host field trips, as well. The exhibition will challenge people to not only ask ‘what would I have done?’ but also, ‘what will I do?’”
To learn more about the exhibition, visit ushmm.org/americans-ala. Read the full announcement.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Americans and the Holocaust traveling exhibit will be a huge undertaking by the Upper Sandusky Community Library, and we want to provide the best experience for visitors as possible. That includes recruiting community members to help monitor the exhibit as well as provide education to those exploring the various displays.
USCL is accepting applications for volunteer docents and general volunteers for Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibition from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum that will be on display at USCL from Aug. 19-Sept. 30, 2026. Applications will be accepted until Jan. 31, 2026.
What is a general volunteer?
General volunteers will act as a greeter to visitors of the Americans and the Holocaust traveling exhibition at the Upper Sandusky Community Library.
The position would include volunteers doing the following:
- Welcome visitors
- Indicate that visitors should register in the sign-in book and track attendance
- Pass out ID cards and explain how they should be used in conjunction with the exhibit
- Monitor both the traveling exhibition and the screening room
- Direct visitors to the bathroom, stairs, elevator, etc.
General volunteers will not:
- Lead tours
Position commitments
- Attend an orientation session at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
- Commit to at least 4 hours per week (two-hour shifts) during the exhibition's display from Aug. 19-Sept. 30, 2026.
- Volunteers will be expected to follow all library safety and policy guidelines.
What is a volunteer docent?
Trained volunteer docents will lead tours of the Americans and the Holocaust traveling exhibition for library visitors at the Upper Sandusky Community Library. Using the exhibition content and a guided script, docents help visitors understand the two fundamental questions posed by the exhibition: "What did Americans know?" and "What more could have been done?" Docents must be able to adapt their tour for large groups, small groups, and for visitors of different ages.
Position commitments
- Attend a 60-minute orientation session on Wednesday, March 11 at 6:00 p.m. OR Tuesday, March 24 at 2:00 p.m.
- Attend training on Wednesday, July 22 at 6:00 p.m.
- Attend practice tours on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 6:00 p.m.
- Commit to at least 4 hours per week (two-hour shifts) during the exhibition's display from Aug. 19-Sept. 30, 2026.
- Consent to a criminal background check.
- Docents will be expected to follow all library safety and policy guidelines.
Qualifications
- Must be comfortable presenting in front of a large group of people.
- Must have a willingness to lead tours for visitors of all ages and abilities.
How to sign up for a volunteer opportunity
If you are interested in being a volunteer docent or a general voluntter, you can fill out an application via the online form or by requesting a form at the library's front desk. Applications must be submitted by Jan. 31, 2026.
Credits
Americans and the Holocaust: A Traveling Exhibition for Libraries is an educational initiative of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Library Association. The traveling exhibition began by touring to 50 U.S. libraries from 2021 to 2023; due to widespread interest from libraries and communities around the country, a second tour was developed for 2024 to 2026.
Americans and the Holocaust was made possible by the generous support of lead sponsor Jeannie & Jonathan Lavine. Additional major funding was provided by the Bildners — Joan & Allen z”l, Elisa Spungen & Rob, Nancy & Jim; and Jane and Daniel Och. The Museum's exhibitions are also supported by the Lester Robbins and Sheila Johnson Robbins Traveling and Special Exhibitions Fund, established in 1990.