Staying Connected
By: Dr. Mark Atwood Lawrence
These are exciting times for the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. This may seem an odd assertion at a time when many cultural institutions across the country are experiencing tough times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The LBJ Library, in fact, is no exception. Our doors have been closed since late March, and it’s hard to see a way to reopen them any time soon. The health and safety of visitors and staff is unquestionably our top priority.
And yet great things are happening at the Library. During the closure, Library staff members have worked hard from their home offices to assist researchers, to run distance-education programs for teachers, to create virtual exhibits for our website, and to engage the public through programs featuring luminaries including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Still, bigger plans are afoot for 2021, the 50th anniversary of the LBJ Library. Since I came aboard as the Library’s sixth Director back in January, my most important duty has been to think about the next phase in the institution’s development. How can we improve our service to the Austin community and the nation in the next half century?
Among my top priorities is to complete a partial redesign of our permanent exhibit to help visitors better understand the leadership and legacies of President Johnson. I am also working hard to accelerate the processing and digitization of the Library’s archival holdings so that coming generations will have full access to the record of one of America’s most transformative eras. And, I aim to craft public and educational programs in ways that will draw a wide array of visitors and ensure that the Johnson presidency remains a vital part of public debate in the years ahead.
While the LBJ Presidential Library is closed, our mission continues. We hope to stay connected with you through virtual programs and exhibits that we’ll be promoting and look forward to celebrating the Library’s 50th anniversary with you in 2021. Stay safe and stay well.