Throughout history, libraries have been vibrant community spaces in a city as cultural hubs for rising Black artists and writers during the Black Renaissance. We explore the career of Vivian G. Harsh, Chicago Public Library’s first Black librarian, who made the Hall Branch in the Bronzeville neighborhood a key community center. We also explore the impact of Charlemae Hill Rollins, who played a critical role in changing Black representation in children’s literature. Finally, we dive deep into why it’s crucial to have spaces devoted to bringing communities together and how today’s libraries continue to champion that mission in new and innovative ways.

More on this episode.

https://www.chipublib.org/blogs/post/library-for-the-people-episode-2/

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