February 9 – March 16, 2026
Daniel Boone Regional Library is one of 50 U.S. libraries selected to host Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibition from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) 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.
Drawing on a remarkable collection of primary sources from the 1930s and ‘40s, the exhibition focuses on the stories of individuals and groups of Americans who took action in response to Nazism. This exhibition will challenge the commonly held assumptions that Americans knew little and did nothing about the Nazi persecution and murder of Jews as the Holocaust unfolded.
The exhibit hopes to challenge people to not only ask “what would I have done?” but also, “what will I do?” (Source: USHMM website)
The exhibit panels will be on display for public viewing February 9 through March 16, 2026 in the Quiet Reading Room of the Columbia Public Library during regular open hours.
Book Lists
Events
The library is sponsoring a number of events in conjunction with the exhibition. See the full list in our online calendar.
Tours and Field Trips
School and community groups are welcome to visit the Americans and the Holocaust exhibit any time between February 9 and March 16 during the Columbia Public Library’s open hours. Please see our field trip guidelines for more information.
We will be offering a limited number of staff-led group tours of the exhibit. To request a tour, please complete a group tour request form.
- Visit our tour request page.
- Answer the question, “What are the main goals of the tour?” with “tour the Americans and the Holocaust Exhibit.”
If you are unable to tour the exhibit in person, please visit USHMM’s online exhibit.
Credit Statement
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.