GENERAL INFORMATION
Exhibits
Overview
The Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies maintains an active exhibits program. Dedicated to sharing information about Georgia’s modern political life and culture through exhibition, the Russell Library develops exhibitions that engage and inspire visitors in a dynamic conversation with past, present, and future. Major thematic exhibitions rotate on an annual and semi annual basis in the main gallery while focused displays in the lobby gallery highlighting new and exciting collections or important current events change more frequently. The Russell Library also develops online exhibits to complement exhibits on display in its galleries. Curatorial staff at the Russell Library research, develop, and fabricate all of its exhibits often in consultation with scholars and community experts. When appropriate the Russell Library arranges to borrow materials from organizations and individuals for its exhibits.
Russell Gallery Hours
The Russell Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except during University holidays and during installation of exhibits.
Group Tours
The Russell Library welcomes visits by groups and can provide tours tailored to the needs and interests of groups with advance notice. To arrange a group tour, call 706-542-5766.
Gallery Admission
Admission to the Russell Gallery is free, suggested donation is $2.
Accessibility of the gallery
For more information about handicapped access to the Russell Gallery please call 706-542-5788.
Public Programs
Overview
The Russell Library is also dedicated to developing and presenting public programming and educational materials that facilitate and encourage research, raise public awareness of the Library and its collections and services, and provide learning opportunities for the communities it serves. The Russell Library hosts several ongoing program series as well as special lectures, film series, tours, and symposia related to its current exhibits.
Public Oral History Series
The Russell Library public oral history series provides the public an opportunity to attend oral history interviews where experts and scholars interview eyewitnesses to history about their experiences, memories, and observations of key moments in history.
Russell Political Salon
Echoing the famous intellectual salons of seventeenth and eighteenth century France, the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies Salon is a periodic gathering of community members and the foremost leaders drawn from politics, policymaking, government, law, business, education, and the media. It is designed for leaders to share knowledge through a stimulating exchange of ideas. Topics discussed generally embrace Georgia’s modern political landscape where public interest intersects with government at all levels, and current issues are examined in light of their historical context. The program encompasses a broad array of formats, including panel discussions, lectures, film screenings, debates, workshops, and symposia. The guiding principle of the Russell Salon is to provide a setting for inspired collaboration that generates new ideas, offers creative solutions to issues, and honors the value of public discourse and informed citizenship.
Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies and the University of Georgia’s chapter of the Roosevelt Institution—a national network of student think tanks dedicated to influencing national policy through the avenues of public policy and advocacy—serve as hosts for an annual National Issues Forums (NIF) Public Policy Institute (PPI) on the University of Georgia campus, Athens, Georgia. The National Issues Forums Institute (NIF), first known as the Domestic Policy Association, was created in 1981 at a series of conferences held at the Johnson Foundation's Wingspread Conference Center in Racine, Wisconsin. NIF has evolved over more than 25 years to foster constructive civic participation and dialogue among citizens. The National Issues Forums model encourages participants to employ the technique of deliberation over debate. The program has been at the forefront of reenergizing civic life across the United States. The two-day Institute consists of two workshops. The first workshop focuses on how to frame issues using the NIF model. The second workshop provides training in moderating and will also include a National Issues Forum that will be open to the public as well as institute participants on a topic to be determined. The Forum offers PPI participants and the general public a wonderful opportunity to experience how deliberation and moderating using the NIF model works, while also giving them a chance to deliberate and discuss a topic of current interest. Examples of issue forum topics that have been addressed over the years at National Issues Forums can be found at the website: www.nifi.org
