Since 2020, FCPL has had a virtual dialogue with our community about the pressing societal issues affecting our county through our Read to Right Wrongs initiative. When we were contacted by the WS Foundation to host the Undesign the Redline exhibit, it coincided with planning the transition to in-person programs and use of meeting rooms. The public has demonstrated a willingness to examine why things are the way they are, but the difficulty is to provide a safe space for reflection that also feels safe from the virus.

FCPL has been able to share this valuable information interactively and in person, even though we are still operating under limitations imposed by the pandemic. The exhibit has been installed in our spacious auditorium with limited room capacity and using safe COVID-19 practices. Interaction with the materials can occur at whatever level the user is comfortable with, while still providing powerful information about the role redlining played in shaping our community.

Public interest for the Undesign the Redline exhibit has been astonishing. Individuals, groups of administrators, non-profit board members, and school system leaders are scheduling tours, and their word of mouth has amplified the substantial press coverage. Realizing the significance of this presentation has required us to extend its stay at the library for an additional two months. The hope is that the ongoing legacy of redlining is part of every conversation charting the direction of our city.