Symposium Recap of ‘From Curation and Preservation to Showcasing, the Role of Libraries in African Americans and the Arts’
Black History Month Symposium

iStudent Blog
Symposium Recap of ‘From Curation and Preservation to Showcasing, the Role of Libraries in African Americans and the Arts’

Published: September 10, 2024 by Matsuko Friedland

In honor of Black History Month, the San José State University iSchool hosted a free online symposium on February 21st, 2024, titled “From Curation and Preservation to Showcasing, the Role of Libraries in African Americans and the Arts”. A recording of the event is available on YouTube. The symposium was presented in partnership with California Librarians Black Caucus (CLBC) and featured moderators Carolyn Norman and Tina Fontenot, keynote Nichelle M. Hayes, and a panel with Dr. Marva DeLoach, Joy M. Doan, and Shauntee Burns-Simpson.

Dr. Anthony Chow, Carolyn Norman, and Tina Fontenot began by opening the symposium. Dr. Anthony Chow shared a link to the recap for our previous Black History Month symposium. Carolyn Norman, library consultant and CLBC President, and Tina Fontenot, President of the new SJSU Black Student Library Collective, introduced themselves and welcomed the panelists.

Photo of Carolyn Norman: Library Consultant and CLBC President.

Next, keynote Nichelle M. Hayes, President of the Black Caucus American Library Association (BCALA), began her presentation on Black History Month and African American artists by sharing what Black History Month means to her.

Photo of Nichelle M. Hayes: BCALA President.

“Black History Month for me is a time to really be intentional, to really share … [and] for the masses …  it’s a time for an entry point or perhaps an appetizer for you to come in and learn a little bit about Black History” - Nichelle M. Hayes, BCALA President

She spoke about the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the organization that founded Black History Month, and sets each year’s theme. She highlighted the other people involved in the founding of Black History Month besides the most well-known founder, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, such as his fraternity members.

“As an amateur historian, I like to look at the erasures and silences. And we know that people can’t do this work by themselves, so who are those other individuals and what did they bring to the table? … and as information professionals that should be something that we’re concerned with doing as well.” - Nichelle M. Hayes, BCALA President

The remainder of Nichelle’s presentation focused on African American artists Mari Evans, Etheridge Knight, Haki R. Madhubuti, Sonia Sanchez, and Maurice Broaddus, and included readings of the poems I Am A Black Woman by Mari Evans, and The Idea of Ancestry by Etheridge Knight.

Photo of Joy M. Doan: Professor of Practice, University of Tennessee Knoxville.

Tina Fontenot then introduced Joy M. Doan, who spoke about how she has integrated her artistic practices of music and literary arts in her LIS work. When she was an SJSU student herself, she pursued relevant opportunities like a Rutgers fellowship in their jazz archives, and a UCLA fellowship at their music library. Then, as an LIS professional, she curated many artistic exhibits. She highlighted the importance of mentorship in supporting future generations of LIS professionals and encouraged students to seek out mentors. Finally, she briefly described her career journey.

Photo of Shauntee Burns-Simpson: Associate Director, Center for Educators and Schools at the New York Public Library.

Next, Shauntee Burns-Simpson spoke about her work on a teacher training set, LibGuide, and documentary about Augusta Savage, a Harlem renaissance sculptor, art administrator, and educator.

Our final speaker, Marva DeLoach, spoke about the addition of the arts into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

“As we think about all of the innovative thinking and creative problem-solving that goes on with STEM, that [the arts] would fit right in.” - Marva DeLoach, Retired Academic Librarian, Educator and Author

She continued on to speak about the importance of curated collections in calling attention to diverse and often overlooked histories, such as that of Henry Ossawa Tanner, the first world-renowned African American painter.

“Curated collections showcase and encompass the diverse range of materials that reflect the richness, creativity, and cultural significance of [African American] arts across various disciplines.” – Marva DeLoach, Retired Academic Librarian, Educator and Author

Marva then spoke about the power of using new and emerging technologies, such as social tagging and AI, in cataloging to describe diverse materials in an accurate and culturally-sensitive manner, and to improve the discoverability of these materials.

The speakers then concluded the event by sharing their reflections on the preceding discussions.

Some best practices from this symposium:

  • Learn about and share hidden and erased histories
  • Use curated collections like exhibitions, catalogs, art books, and digital online resources
  • Integrate artistic practices into LIS work
  • Use new and emerging technologies to describe materials in an accurate and culturally-sensitive manner
  • Seek out faculty or other experienced people for mentorship
  • Move from STEM to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics)

Additional resources from this symposium:

 

Access the full symposium: