Black History Archives | American Libraries Magazine

Graphic: Emily Drabinski, Dalena Hunter, and Teresa Y. Neely

Women’s Activism Is Black Activism

By Sallyann Price | June 25, 2020

Across the board, the panelists linked women’s activism in libraries to the activism of Black women and women of color working in a field dominated by white women, with frequent disparities between the credentialed professionals and the more diverse pool of paraprofessional library workers. “[These disparities are] hard to think about and hard to grapple … Continue reading Women’s Activism Is Black Activism →

Golden Arches, Black Franchises

By Terra Dankowski | June 25, 2019

“The reason I’m conversant in [race, social justice, and public policy] topics is because it all started at the library,” she told those gathered for the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services President’s Program at the American Library Association’s 2019 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., on June 24. Chatelain reminisced about being dropping off … Continue reading Golden Arches, Black Franchises →

ALA Honors African Americans Who Fought Library Segregation

July 3, 2018

Resolution to Honor African Americans Who Fought Library Segregation Whereas the system of “Jim Crow” laws and customs officially existed into the 1960s—a century after the official end of slavery in the United States; Whereas virulent racism, disenfranchisement, Black Codes, and racial segregation laws imposed a rigid system of officially sanctioned racial segregation in virtually … Continue reading ALA Honors African Americans Who Fought Library Segregation →

Members of an African drum and dance ensemble lead patrons in a performance routine as part of Richland Library's day-long Black History Month Fair on January 28, 2017. Photo: Richland Library

Every Month Is Black History Month

By Quincy Pugh | March 1, 2018

Richland Library in Columbia, South Carolina, needed a better way to reach its African-American community. Quincy Pugh, film and sound manager, explains how the decision to celebrate black history year-round and start “I Have a Problem with That”—a series of panel discussions that address challenging social issues—has boosted program attendance and engagement among its target … Continue reading Every Month Is Black History Month →

Jessie Carney Smith in 1965, her first year as a university librarian at Fisk University in Nashville.

Blazing Trails

By Greg Landgraf | January 2, 2018

American Libraries spoke with five leading African-American librarians about their careers, the changes they have witnessed over the decades, and the current issues in librarianship. While no two people have the same story, all five interviewees note inclusivity as an important theme. They discuss libraries as safe havens, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the … Continue reading Blazing Trails →

Patricia Bearden (left) and Raquel Flores-Clemons present “Partners in History: Chicago State University Archive and International Society of Sons and Daughters of Slave Ancestry Digital Collaboration" at DPLAfest in Chicago on April 20.

DPLAfest Comes to Chicago

By John Amundsen | April 25, 2017

Several presentations highlighted efforts to document, preserve, and share digital collections on social justice and community engagement. Preserving African-American history on Chicago’s South Side “Partners in History: Chicago State University Archive and International Society of Sons and Daughters of Slave Ancestry Digital Collaboration,” led by Chicago State University (CSU) Archivist Raquel Flores-Clemons, Patricia Bearden, president … Continue reading DPLAfest Comes to Chicago →

Former Broward County (Fla.) Library Director Samuel F. Morrison stands next to a replica of himself. It stands at the entrance of the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale.

This Former Library Director Is Beside Himself

By Alison Marcotte | October 9, 2015

Morrison, who received his master’s in library science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, became director of the Broward County library system in 1990 and retired in 2003. As director, he began campaigning to build AARLCC, and in 2002, the 60,000-square-foot facility opened as a branch of Broward County Library. Its collection of books, … Continue reading This Former Library Director Is Beside Himself →

Black History Month Graphic Novels for Your Collection

By Sarah Hunter | February 5, 2015

Need to refresh your Black History Month offerings? Here are some graphic novels, both fiction and nonfiction, that address Black History in dynamic, engaging ways. For Adults: Darkroom: A Memoir in Black and White By Lila Quintero Weaver. Illus. by the author. 2012. Univ. of Alabama, paper, $24.95 (9780817357146). Perry County, Alabama, was a hotbed … Continue reading Black History Month Graphic Novels for Your Collection →

Latest Library Links

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You know the value of your library, but elected officials, donors, community leaders, funders, and other important stakeholders may not. How can you make the library a priority for these groups, who may have preconceived notions about what the library does, as you compete with other important community organizations for funding? Proving Your Library’s Value: Persuasive, Organized, and Memorable Messaging, published by ALA Editions in collaboration with United for Libraries, will show you how to succeed.

ALA Publishing, Aug. 12
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This year’s ASGCLA/Keystone Library Automation System/National Organization on Disability Award goes to Moline (Ill.) Public Library/ARTability for its efforts to expand and enhance art-related programming for people with disabilities in its community and their advocacy and passion in providing equal access to library programs and services through ARTability and Beyond. Working with Blackhawk Area Education Center serving 14 local school districts, the library created ARTability, offering 13 uniquely tailored art and music programs for BAEC students.

ASGCLA, Aug. 10
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New research published in AASL’s peer-reviewed online journal School Library Research analyzes the use of school libraries by students who receive free school meals. The research team’s findings are detailed in their article “Exploring the Literacy-Related Behaviors and Feelings of Pupils Eligible for Free School Meals in Relation to Their Use of and Access to School Libraries.” Findings indicated effective school libraries can be a significant resource in supporting engagement with self-motivated literacy practices in children from low-income families.

AASL, Aug. 10
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Registration for the 2020 ALSC Virtual Institute, “Dive In: Engage, Amplify, Activate,” is now open. This year’s Virtual Institute will convene October 2-3, in lieu of the originally planned in-person event in Minneapolis. Registration for this year’s Institute will be $50 for ALSC members and $75 for nonmembers. General session panels will include authors Minh Lê, Carole Lindstrom, Bao Phi, Kao Kalia Yang, and 2020 Stonewall Children’s and Youth Adult Literature winner Kyle Lukoff, as well as illustrator Michaela Goade.

ALSC, Aug. 11
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Documentation is important to continuity and sustainability of processes in library work, but it’s an easy thing to write off as too hard or to mentally set aside for a “slow period” that never comes. Lessons from the field of technical writing can help us prioritize these important tasks. Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures will present “How Do We Do That Again? Documenting Library Work,” on September 2, at 1 p.m. Central. Register at bit.ly/3igr4Yf.

Core, Aug. 12
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ALA has chosen Nicole Lewis, lead cataloger at J. W. Marriott Library at University of Utah, as the 2020 Tom and Roberta Drewes Scholarship recipient. The $3,000 scholarship is awarded to a library support staff worker who is pursuing an MLIS. Lewis has been working in the library field for nearly 15 years. She says she enjoys giving back to the profession through presentations and her work on committees.

ALA Human Resource Development and Recruitment, Aug. 12
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Nancy Faget, of the Army Research Laboratory, has received the 2020 ASGCLA Federal Achievement Award. She created Careers in Federal Libraries programming for library professionals. These challenging and rewarding careers afford librarians the opportunity to work around the globe in all types of libraries. Through her years serving in ALA FAFLRT (now ASGCLA), Careers in Federal Libraries events were held for over a decade at a variety of venues including the Library of Congress, library schools, and professional association conferences.

ASGCLA, Aug. 6

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