Handbook of Black Librarianship

Winner of the BCALA 2025 Literary Award for Outstanding Contribution to Publishing

As Dr. Josey and Ms. DeLoach wrote in their Introduction to the second edition of The Handbook of Black Librarianship: “In designing the second edition of The Handbook of Black Librarianship, the editors felt that this work should be a reference tool related to the various aspects of African Americans in librarianship and their work in libraries.”

That first edition covered issues faced by black library professionals in the various fields of librarianship; organizations formed; black library collections and books; resources and other areas of progress. The second edition, published twenty-three years later, highlighted more current events in Black librarianship: early and contemporary library organizations, vital issues, African American resources, discussions on and about librarianship, a focus on health librarianship, and information resources and education.

It has now been another twenty-two years since the last edition and time to reflect on “various aspects of African Americans” in our profession as well as the advancements over the past two and a half decades and to review those issues African Americans still face and how modern technological advancements have impacted our profession and the lives of Black librarians.

This third edition's coverage includes:

Pioneers and Landmark Episodes; A Chronology of Events in Black Librarianship; African American Forerunners in Librarianship; Modern Day Black Library Organizations; Vital Issues in Black Librarianship; Library Service to Our Communities; Library Technology and Black Librarianship; Pearls from Our Retirees; Issues in Diversity, Inclusion and Multiculturalism; African Library Resources and Education; Banned Books; and Significant Books and Periodicals for Black Collections