In taking a holistic approach to the study of Black librarianship, the contributors also shine a light on the shortcomings of the profession as a whole while offering ways forward…. Standout essays include a conversation with Dr. Robert Wedgeworth, pioneering librarian and first Black executive director of ALA, "'I'm Rooting for Everybody Black': A Labor of Love," which acknowledges the extra labor Black librarians do for Black patrons and the reality of ‘doing more with less’ at HBCU libraries. The entire fourth section is worth the price of admission alone, including a conversation with current ALA executive director Tracie D. Hall and her mentor, Satia Marshall Orange, in which Hall proclaims that "Black librarianship is not a passive endeavor." Other contributions in that section cover the recruitment of Black MLIS students, social justice initiatives among patrons and staff in Colorado public libraries, and how archivists can support Black digital-memory workers, including a list of Instagram accounts of note. In its third iteration, The Black Librarian in America remains a vital document for understanding the past, present, and future of Black librarianship.
— Booklist
This volume is part of an ongoing sequence of books on the Black librarian. It commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), and it is the first title in the sequence to be edited by a Black woman. The essay topics are timely for the challenges that Black librarians continue to face in the field, and the information and perspectives are applicable across public, academic, and specialized libraries and archives. This latest Black Librarian in America title should be required reading not only for new Black librarians but also for those who seek to understand, support, and amplify Black librarians' historical foundations, current contributions, and ongoing needs within librarianship. Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty, and professionals.
— Choice Reviews
[T]he wealth of wisdom and lived experience of the stories that are represented in this volume are invaluable…. The Black Librarian in America: Reflections, Resistance, and Reawakening is a powerful reminder of all that Black librarianship has endured and is enduring, as well as a joyful celebration of survival and empowerment for the steps that are to come. Not much and so much has changed in 50 years for Black library workers; but, as always, hope for the future lies in careful reflection on the past.
— College & Research Libraries
This is a wonderful timely compendium of works that amplify Black voices in the library and information science profession. What's most impressive is how each author's effective synthesis of literature draws readers into their narrative. Given how rare it is to see scholarship on the Black librarianship, this is a significant contribution to the field.
— Renate Chacellor, Author of E.J. Josey: Transformational Leader of the Modern Library Profession
The Black Librarian in America: Reflections, Resistance, and Reawakening is timely and relevant. It's about the groundwork of and for inclusivity. Black librarians in American demonstrate our resilience every day by navigating through social issues, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
— Kelvin Watson, award-winning African American librarian and past BCALA president
This rich volume celebrates the voices and important work of Black librarians in the profession. It is truly an inspiring collection that highlights critical activities, issues, and accomplishments, and will greatly contribute to the LIS field and scholarship.
— Raymond Pun, academic librarian, and co-editor of Asian American Librarians and Library Services: Activism, Collaborations, and Strategies
The Black Librarian in America: Reflections, Resistance, and Reawakening is required reading for the climate that we find ourselves in. It gives strength and encouragement toward the challenges Black librarians face and the space to share our treasured joys as we continue toward advancement and equity. Librarians, library staff, and library school students would gain much from its thoughtfulness.
— Technical Services Quarterly