Celebrate Black History Month at Your Library

Celebrate Black History Month all February with collections, programs and more, compiled by your local librarians.

From Your Catalog:

Celebrating Black and African American Fantasy/SciFi Authors

Celebrating Black and African American Nonfiction Authors

compiled by Mason Butler - Adult Services Librarian, Xenia Community Library

Award-Winning Teen Books by African American Authors

Award-Winning Children's Books by African American Authors

Award-Winning Picture Books by African American Authors & Illustrators

compiled by Caitlin Wichterman - Head of Youth Services, Fairborn Community Library

Happening at Your Library:

[All Month - online] Craft for a Cause: Little Dresses for Africa - A monthly collective of Greene County crafters, this month's Craft for a Cause is for Little Dresses for Africa, a 501(c)3 providing humanitarian relief to the most vulnerable of God’s children: little girls. 

[All Month - online] Online Book Club: If Beale Street Could Talk - Join Erin for a blog conversation with a new book each month. This month: If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin.

[Wed, Feb 2 - Beavercreek] Black History is... - Painting! We'll be meeting every Wednesday night in February for hands-on activities to learn about Black History.

[Sat, Feb 5 - Beavercreek] Christopher Ward Trio - Listen to music on the fly with steel drums, guitar, and bass instruments. The Christopher Ward Trio will perform music involving jazz and improvisation in African-American music

[Wed, Feb 9 - Yellow Springs, online] Carolyn Mazloomi: Changing Minds and Hearts Through Art - Join us for a very special online presentation from Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi as she shares from her over 40 years of experience as a quilter, curator and author.  

[Thu, Feb 10 - Beavercreek] An Evening With Paul Lawrence Dunbar - Paul Laurence Dunbar, in full period costume, reads his poetry and interacts with the audience about his achievements and challenges as a black author in the 20th century.

[Tue, Feb 15 - Cedarville] Woodland Cemetery: Black History - Join Angelina Hoschouer to explore the history of African Americans whose final resting place is at Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum.

[Wed, Feb 16 - Beavercreek] Woodland Cemetery: Black History - Wayne Witherell of Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum will present a program that honors the lives of African Americans whose final resting place is in Dayton, Ohio.

[Wed, Feb 16 - Beavercreek] Black History is... - Music! We'll be meeting every Wednesday night in February for hands-on activities to learn about Black History. 

[Wed, Feb 23 - Beavercreek] Black History is... - Food! We'll be meeting every Wednesday night in February for hands-on activities to learn about Black History. 

[Thu, Feb 24 - Beavercreek] Homeschoolers Celebrate Black History Month Through Picture Books - So many great picture books celebrating black culture! Join Miss Julie to see and make our own artwork!

...and more! Be sure to ask your librarian and visit our full calendar of events online.

Studying Your Family Roots

Discovering your African-American genealogy presents a number of unique challenges and concerns. While the Greene County Room provides many excellent resources, this video offers just a brief look at how you might approach researching your African-American family tree, using some readily available materials in the library and on-line. African-American genealogy also requires some particular strategies, and so we will touch on some of those approaches.

BIBLIO LIST: Here’s a list of materials, mostly in the branches, mostly circulating. Additional online resources can be found here.

POWERPOINT: The presentation walked through in the video can be found online as a PDF.

PRESENTER: Tracy Marks, Adult Services Librarian, Fairborn - M.A.Ed, P.L.C.G.S.*

*Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies, from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies (2019)

From 2021, Black Men in White Coats - a Greene County Discussion

On February 24 2021, the Greene County Public Library hosted a panel of local experts to discuss the documentary, Black Men in White Coats. Featured at the event was John Gudgel from Yellow Springs Schools, Dr. Karen Mathews from Central State University, Dr. Gabe Lofton from Xenia Community Schools, Dr. Christopher Holloway from Kettering Health Network's Soin Medical Center, and Joshua Madden from Wright State University 's Boonshoft School of Medicine.

Learn more about the documentary and the movie at https://www.blackmeninwhitecoats.org/, opens a new window