Traveling Exhibits

How it Works

1. Booking

• Traveling exhibits are available to all SELS member libraries.

• Use the Google Calendar booking links below to book an appointment and confirm your delivery week. Appointments are first come, first served.

• Delivery appointments appear every six weeks and are listed on Mondays at 9 AM. THIS DOES NOT MEAN DELIVERY IS LIMITED TO MONDAYS AT 9 AM! The Monday appointment simply marks the week the exhibit will be delivered, not the specific day or time. Scroll down for a scheduling timeline.

• Exhibits can be booked up to one year in advance.

2. Delivery & Setup

• After you book a delivery appointment, Claire will contact you to arrange a specific delivery day and time that works for everyone. If Mondays are not convenient, delivery can be coordinated for another weekday.

• Libraries should be prepared to receive the exhibit sometime during the delivery week they selected.

• Setup time varies by exhibit, scroll down for more information.

3. Host the Exhibit

• Libraries keep the exhibit on display for 4-5 weeks.

• If a library needs to take an exhibit down early due to space constraints or scheduling conflicts with other programs, that is okay. However, exhibits cannot be kept for longer than 5 weeks.

• There are no takeaway materials or surveys provided with the exhibits. Libraries are welcome to create their own materials or surveys if they wish to do so.

• SELS will provide a draft promotional flyer, a draft promotional social media post, and a draft press release that libraries can edit and use as they see fit. Links to these materials will be emailed after your booking appointment is confirmed.

4. Takedown & Pickup

• Claire will reach out to arrange a pickup day and time.

• Library staff disassemble the exhibit and have it ready for transport in advance of the pickup time.

• The library staff person responsible for coordinating the exhibit will be sent a very brief survey to share their experience hosting a SELS travleing exhibit and provide feedback for areas of improvement.

Scheduling Timeline (2026 - 2027)

• 4/6 Booking Appointment | 4/6 – 4/10 Delivery & Setup | 5/11 – 5/15 Takedown & Pickup

• 5/18 Booking Appointment | 5/18 – 5/22 Delivery & Setup | 6/22 – 6/26 Takedown & Pickup

• 6/29 Booking Appointment | 6/29 – 7/3 Delivery & Setup | 8/3 – 8/7 Takedown & Pickup

• 8/10 Booking Appointment | 8/10 – 8/14 Delivery & Setup | 9/14 – 9/18 Takedown & Pickup

• 9/21 Booking Appointment | 9/21 – 9/25 Delivery & Setup | 10/26 – 10/30 Takedown & Pickup

• 11/2 Booking Appointment | 11/2 – 11/6 Delivery & Setup | 12/7 – 12/11 Takedown & Pickup

• 12/14 Booking Appointment | 12/14 – 12/18 Delivery & Setup | 1/18/27 – 1/22/27 Takedown & Pickup

• 1/25/27 Booking Appointment | 1/25–1/29 Delivery & Setup | 3/1–3/5 Takedown & Pickup

• 3/8 Booking Appointment | 3/8–3/12 Delivery & Setup | 4/12–4/16 Takedown & Pickup

• 4/19 Booking Appointment | 4/19–4/23 Delivery & Setup | 5/24–5/28 Takedown & Pickup

• 5/31 Booking Appointment | 5/31–6/4 Delivery & Setup | 7/5–7/9 Takedown & Pickup

• 7/12 Booking Appointment | 7/12–7/16 Delivery & Setup | 8/16–8/20 Takedown & Pickup

• 8/23 Booking Appointment | 8/23–8/27 Delivery & Setup | 9/27–10/1 Takedown & Pickup

• 10/4 Booking Appointment | 10/4–10/8 Delivery & Setup | 11/8–11/12 Takedown & Pickup

• 11/15 Booking Appointment | 11/15–11/19 Delivery & Setup | 12/20–12/24 Takedown & Pickup

Scheduling will continue for as long as the banners are in working order.

FAQs

• "What if I don’t have enough space for the exhibit in my library?"

You might be surprised! Many small libraries have successfully hosted these exhibits. Banners can be displayed “back to back” to save space, and both the TESTIFY and INCLUDE exhibits can be reduced in size by removing certain panels. If space is a concern, go ahead and book an exhibit and Claire will work with you to make it fit! You can also consider partnering with a local organization that has more space, such as a school, city hall, community center, history museum, or art organization.

• "Do I need approval from my library director, principal, or organization director to host an exhibit?"

Yes. Please check with your director before booking to ensure there are no scheduling or policy conflicts.

• "Is there a cost to borrow the exhibit?"

No. All exhibits are available at no cost to SELS member libraries.

• "Can I charge extra admission for the exhibit?"

No. Libraries may not charge extra admission for viewing the exhibit. However, history museums or other organizations with existing entry fees do not need to waive them.

• "Am I expected to promote the exhibit in advance?"

That’s entirely up to you. SELS will provide a Canva template for a promotional flyer and social media post, as well as a draft press release and you can edit and use these promotional materials as you see fit. But promotion is not required. Libraries are also welcome to create their own promotional materials if they prefer.

• "Are there any supporting materials or takeaways that come with the exhibit?"

None of the exhibits come with takeaway materials or surveys. The INCLUDE and Seedswomen exhibits do not include any supporting materials. The TESTIFY exhibit comes with laminated biographies of Diane and Alan Page and a content warning sign. Libraries are welcome to create their own materials, activities, or surveys for any of the exhibits.

• "If I create my own materials (promos, surveys, bookmarks, etc.), are there requirements?"

You’re welcome to make your own materials, but there are some requirements you must follow:

• 1. Do not use banner content for fundraising or sale

  2. Include the following attribution: ““This exhibit is available to view at [Library Name] thanks to SELS (Southeast Library System), a Minnesota Multicounty, Multitype Library System.”

  3. No logos required: There are no logos you are required to include in materials you create.

• "Is this a Legacy program?"

No. These exhibits are made available through partnerships between SELS and the organizations that created them, and the physical banner sets are funded, owned, and managed exclusively by SELS (all Legacy programs are through SELCO). All intellectual material, including text and graphics, is the property of the organizations and/or graphic designers that created the exhibits.

• "Can multiple libraries host the same exhibit at the same time?"

Yes, depending on how many sets of banners are available. For example, the Seedswomen exhibit has three sets available, so up to three libraries can host it at the same time.

• "What if a banner gets damaged while it’s at my library?"

No worries! Banners do wear out over time, and libraries are not responsible for any damage or wear. SELS will handle all costs related to repairs and replacement.

• "Is there a final report required after my library hosts the exhibit?"

No. There is no final report form or data collection required for final report purposes while the exhibit is at your library. However, the library staff person coordinating the exhibit will be sent a very brief survey afterward to share their experience and provide feedback to help SELS staff improve the traveling exhibit process.

Contact cheins@selco.info with any questions.

Current Exhibits