FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sep 21, 2026
Rockford Public Library Partners with Barack Obama Presidential Library for "America at 250" Workshop Series
Three-part series will teach residents how to access federal and local government records
Rockford, IL. — From the desk of the president to the minutes of a local city council meeting, public records shape our understanding of history, accountability, and community — but knowing how to find them is another matter. This fall, the Rockford Public Library is teaming up with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Barack Obama Presidential Library for a three-part workshop series designed to demystify government records and show residents exactly how to access them.
The series, part of the library's "America at 250: Your Government, Your Records" programming, pairs federal archivists with local library specialists across three sessions covering digital research tools, genealogical resources, and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). "Civic engagement starts with access to information, to history, and to the systems that shape our daily lives," said Anthony Cortez, Executive Director of the Rockford Public Library. "This partnership allows us to continue giving our community the tools and confidence to participate in civic life."
"Presidential libraries make the records of our nation’s governing available to everyone," said Dr. Kenvi Phillips, Director of the Barack Obama Presidential Library. "Partnering with local libraries like Rockford's is exactly how we ensure access to communities across the nation."
Session 1: Decode Democracy — Demystifying Government Records: Sept. 23, 5:30–6:30 p.m. Archivists with the Barack Obama Presidential Library, will explain what the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is — and isn't — and how to access various types of personnel files for genealogical or personal purposes.
Session 2: Logging On — Linking Digital Research Sources: Oct. 21, 5:30–6:30 p.m. Archivists with the Barack Obama Presidential Library, will walk through the library's digital resources, including the National Archives Catalog, the Obama Presidential Library's Digital Research Room and Digital Artifacts Collection, and "frozen" archived websites and social media from the Obama administration. Brooke Rastenis, a librarian with the Rockford Public Library, will offer an overview of comparable digital resources available locally.
Session 3: Your Right to Know — A Guide to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): Nov. 18, 5:30–6:30 p.m. Archivists with the Barack Obama Presidential Library, will discuss how you can gain access to government records through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Participants will gain practical insights into the complete FOIA lifecycle moving step by step from drafting targeted, descriptive requests to navigating internal agency searches and document releases.
All three sessions will be held in the Adult Services WREX Room at RPL's Main Library, 215 N. Wyman St. The series is free and open to the public; no registration is required.
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About the Rockford Public Library
The Rockford Public Library, founded in 1872 as the second library in Illinois, currently has four facilities, including the new Main Library, a performing arts and training center (RPL’s Nordlof Center), two Branch Libraries and three Mobile Library Vehicles. Rockford Public Library informs, educates, entertains, and provides cultural enrichment to the people of our community.
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About the Barack Obama Presidential Library
The Barack Obama Presidential Library is one of 16 libraries in the National Archives and Records Administration, a federally operated Presidential Library system. Presidential Libraries and Museums are repositories for each administration’s papers and records and preserve and provide access to historical materials, support research, and create interactive programs and exhibits that educate and inspire.
Contact:
Bridget Finn Marketing Director Rockford Public Library bfinn@rockfordpubliclibrary.org 815-987-6609 815-519-6715 cell