A Letter From Julia Walden, Executive Director
In 2024, as part of our Veterans Project, the Library observed the 80th anniversaries of key World War II events such as D-Day and the Battle of Saipan. We now bring our World War II commemorative programming to a close with our final event, Anne Frank: A History for Today, which observes the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in January 2025. This exhibit shares the story of Anne Frank against the background of the Holocaust and World War II. Over 30 descriptive panels trace Anne’s family history, the rise of the Nazi party, the Franks’ experience in hiding in the Secret Annex, and the legacy Anne left behind.
Anne Frank: A History for Today is curated by the Anne Frank Center at the University of South Carolina, the official U.S. partner of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and the only partner site in North America. We are honored to serve as a host location for the exhibit, which has traveled all over the world and is presented over 200 times a year in schools, museums and libraries.
Volunteer docents will be on hand to help guide visitors through the exhibit, which runs November 11 to December 14 on the Upper Level of LCL's Downtown Newark location. Extra copies of The Diary of Anne Frank are available, as well as recommended reading lists and special programming.
Anne Frank’s diary, with 30 million copies sold in 70 languages, is an extraordinary first-hand account of the devasting consequences of bigotry, war and genocide. It is also a testament to resiliency, empathy and hope. Anne’s personal story and enduring legacy teaches us crucial lessons about the power of words and their ability to transform individuals and communities—80 years ago and today.
Anne Frank: A History for Today has been made possible in partnership with The Licking County Foundation.
Programs & Tours
Register for a tour of Anne Frank: A History for Today with Empowered Minds, or a virtual tour of the Anne Frank House. You can view The Collective's corresponding display about Life During World War II on the Main Level of LCL Downtown Newark, from November 4 to 27. LCL is also offering multiple programs on Jewish life during the Holocaust. Click on the links below to learn more about each program.
November 11 | Anne Frank House Virtual Tour
November 13 | Jewish War Brides
November 15 | Empowered Minds: Anne Frank Exhibit Tour
November 19 | Newark's Jewish Pioneers
December 3 | Anne Frank House Virtual Tour
December 10 | Legacies of Auschwitz
December 14 | Hidden Identities: Jewish Survival During the Holocaust