April 28, 2023 

Area residents will soon be able to explore World on the Move: 250,000 Years of Human Migration, a traveling exhibition developed by the American Anthropological Association and the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

Application for World on the Move was a competitive, peer-reviewed process, with only 15 libraries in the country earning the chance to host.  Director of Library Services Amanda Barrera says APL is always looking for new and innovative ways to create lifelong learning opportunities.  “Amarillo has a significant immigrant and refugee population, and APL has been supporting those communities for more than a decade through English as a Second Language and Citizenship classes, so we are pleased to offer an opportunity for Amarillo to learn more about the human history and contemporary issues surrounding migration.”

By presenting case studies from across human history and an array of cultures, World on the Move invites visitors to recognize that migration is a complex and diverse shared human experience. The exhibition aims to expand the public conversation on the topic of migration and displacement.

Supporting programs taking place while the exhibition is on display include:

First Peoples Film Series - Thursdays, May 11 through June 8 at 7 PM at the Southwest Branch Library
In partnership with Panhandle PBS, this film series shows how humans reached each continent, focusing on various fossil discoveries and placing them into the context of what research has discovered about pre-modern human migration. Each screening will be followed by a brief discussion with experts on history and archeology.

World on the Move Multi-Cultural Fair - Saturday, May 13 from 10 AM to 12:30 PM at the Downtown Library
A celebration of cultures represented in Amarillo through music, art, cuisine, and craft.

First Peoples Interactive Map - Thursday, June 15 at 7 PM at the Downtown Library
Using interactive resources from the PBS documentary series, participants will examine how Homo sapiens populated the Earth.  This interactive map highlights recent dramatic advancements in our understanding of early human history, drawing together video clips and images from the documentary First Peoples, quizzes, and explanations of the latest scientific discoveries. 

World on the Move Resources Fair - Saturday, June 3 from 10 AM to 12:30 PM at the Downtown Library
Participating service organizations will be available to answer questions about resources available to Amarillo immigrant and refugee populations.

The exhibition will be free and open to the public during regular library hours.

For more information contact APL Coordinator of PR and Programming, Stacy Clopton at Stacy.Clopton@amarillolibrary.org.