Pre-Lit Fest 2022: The Black Librarian in America

The recently released book, The Black Librarian in America: Reflections, Resistance, and Reawakening is the latest in the powerful line of The Black Librarian in America series started by the pioneering Black Librarian, E.J. Josey, over fifty years ago. This newest volume—the first edition to be edited entirely by Black women librarians—explores multiple themes: from Black library history, to activism, to Afrofuturism. Join us for this program as the authors and editors explore the varied themes in The Black Librarian in America and the current state and future of Black Librarianship. A Reception will follow.

This event is part of the celebrates authors of African descent and champions literacy and books across genres to amplify Black history and culture. Festival programming features some of the most talented writers and influential figures in culture today. The festival is built on the foundation created by Arturo Schomburg–encouraging freedom of thought, the relentless pursuit of Black history, and the engagement of our imagination towards our collective freedom.

A copy of The Black Librarian in America can be purchased from the Schomburg Shop in Harlem and online at .

This program will also be available on livestream.com/schomburgcenter.

Rhonda Evans (MLIS, JD, MFA) is the Assistant Chief Librarian of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture where she supports the management of the Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division’s diverse collections that focus on people of African descent throughout the world. In addition she serves as the Chair of the American Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Round Table and is an appointee to the Intellectual Freedom Committee. She is currently working on a book that documents the impact of Black librarians on the Harlem Renaissance.

Shauntee Burns-Simpson (MLIS) currently serves as the 2020-2022 president of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA). She is the associate director of School Support & Outreach for the New York Public Library. An ambassador for libraries and youth librarian, Mrs. Simpson enjoys connecting people to the public library and its resources. She works closely with at-risk teens and fosters a love of reading & learning with her innovative programs. In addition to leading BCALA, she chairs ALA’s Committee on Diversity of the American Library Association.

Amalia E. Butler (MSLIS) is currently a Senior Children’s Librarian in the New York metro area and a graduate of Drexel University’s library school. She earned national recognition for award winning public library programming, including workshops on worker's rights for non-parental caregivers; a community health education partnership; and a school-age writing program. Amalia also served as a peer trainer for a statewide early literacy initiative focuses Black Caucus of the American Library Association, the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, and the Association for Library Services to Children.

Nichelle M. Hayes (MPA, MLS) is the Black Caucus of the American Library Association president-elect (2022-2024) and current vice-president. She is the Interim CEO of the Indianapolis Public Library and Formerly Founding Director of the Center for Black Literature & Culture (CBLC) at the Indianapolis Public Library. She is a blogger at https://thetiesthatbind.blog/ where she discusses genealogy and keeping families connected.

Ana Ndumu (MLIS, Ph.D.) is an assistant professor at the University of Maryland College Park’s College of Information Studies who primarily researches and teaches on library services to immigrants—particularly, Black diasporic immigrants—along with methods for promoting representation and inclusion in LIS. A former HBCU, she is interested in the cross between Black identity, information access, and social inclusion. Ana is a BCALA executive board member and co-chairs the Professional Development & Recruitment Committee.

Teresa A. Quick, (MS. Ed) is currently a K-12 school librarian in New Jersey. She is an active member of BCALA serving as meeting recorder for the International Relations Committee. She was a panelist at 2019 New York Comic Con #ownvoices panel and the 2021 New York Comic Con "Graphic Novels in Schools"panel. Teresa blogs @Ms_Quick_Picks reviewing global children’s literature,and international librarianship. Teresa is working on her first children’s book and pursuing an MSLIS degree.

Shaundra Walker (MSLS, Ph.D.) is the library director at Georgia College. Shaundra has over 15 years of experience working in libraries and higher education. Her work and research in libraries and education are deeply influenced by her experience attending and working in HBCUs. Her research interests include the recruitment and retention of diverse librarians and organizational development within the library.

PUBLIC NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER By registering for this event, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. By attending an in-person program at The New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold The New York Public Library, its Trustees, officers, agent and employees liable for any illness or injury. If you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or suspect you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, please stay home.

Artwork: Cropped, "Take A Look...The Universe is Yours!", 2019 by Jennifer Mack-Watkins

The celebrates authors of African descent and champions literacy and books across genres to amplify Black history and culture. Festival programming features some of the most talented writers and influential figures in culture today. The festival is built on the foundation created by Arturo Schomburg–encouraging freedom of thought, the relentless pursuit of Black history, and the engagement of our imagination towards our collective freedom. The inaugural festival, founded in 2019 as an in-person event, has been virtual for the last two years. 2022 marks its fourth year and will reconvene communities of book lovers to interact with their favorite authors in Harlem, USA. The festival hosts a marketplace of local organizations and vendors, NYPL mobile library, and programs for all ages. Readings, panel discussions, and workshops at the event range from prose to poetry, comic books to young adult novels, fiction and nonfiction. Visit our website at .

The festival will take place in Schomburg’s landmark building at 515 Malcolm X Boulevard, as well as outdoors on 135th Street between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevards, on stage named after Adam Clayton Powell and Zora Neale Hurston.

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AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING Programs are photographed and recorded by the Schomburg Center. Attending this event indicates your consent to being filmed/photographed and your consent to the use of your recorded image for any all purposes of the New York Public Library.

PRESS Please send all press inquiries (photo, video, interviews, audio-recording, etc) at least 24-hours before the day of the program to Leah Drayton at [email protected].

Please note that professional video recordings are prohibited without expressed consent.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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