Both our country and community faced a racial reckoning following high-profile incidents of violence. When it was necessary for library programs to be virtual, This Should Not Be provided a physical space to process these events; it continues to do so as digital content is updated. Through partnership with non-profit, Innovators for Purpose (iFp) and AR company, Hoverlay, we’ve established a public forum for a diverse group of teens to share powerful messaging and a community engagement platform for discussion around so

Our public exhibit is the first of its kind in the world, hosting a digital overlay created by members of the community — teens nonetheless — to share their vision about social issues. The project went from concept to implementation in five months with support from world-class instructors, computers and resources loaned from the library, and community feedback from formal design reviews. It was possible through collaborative efforts with the Department of Public Works and Friends of the Joan Lorentz Park.

Since installation, the exhibit has seen over 1,000 engagements and several updates to reflect changes in the social landscape and current events. It has been lauded by community members, local officials, and leaders in the field of augmented reality. Upon recognizing the power of their voices to engage the community, through continued funding in part from the library, iFp teens are now engaging key leaders in public and private sectors in meaningful conversations around issues of race and equity in Cambridge.