African American Librarians in the Far West: Pioneers and Trailblazers

by Binnie Tate Wilkin (Editor)

Overview

Historically, African American librarians have faced the same problems of discrimination as other African American professionals: a lack of respect for professionalism; placement of African Americans in only African American communities; failure to receive promotions to administrative positions, especially those requiring supervision of white counterparts; and failure to recognize contributions to the work organization and to the profession. This volume includes biographies of twenty-two librarians who practiced their profession in the western United States and Hawaii and have made contributions to the advancement of African Americans in the profession, to the library, to the general community, and to the profession of Library and Information Science.

Those included are considered to be "pioneers" and "trailblazers" because they were the "firsts," forging the way and eliminating barriers for African American librarians to follow. Each participant submitted his or her personal biography in addition to various personal narratives and instructive information. This volume is a first step, which, with past and future records, can offer encouragement to those entering the complex arena of information purveying.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810851566
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/25/2006
Series:	Children's Literature Association Centennial Studies
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Binnie Tate Wilkin has taught courses as full-time and part-time Adjunct Faculty at schools of library and information science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of California at Berkeley and at Los Angeles, California State College at Fullerton, the University of Hawaii at Honolulu, and Columbia University in New York. She has written several articles in library literature and authored two editions of Survival Themes in Literature for Children and Young People. She now writes original children's stories, which she prints and distributes to children at story programs.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Introduction Chapter 2 1. Tribute to Miriam Matthews: First Trained African American Librarian in California Chapter 3 2. Barbara L. Anderson, Retired County Librarian, San Bernardino County Library, San Bernardino, California Chapter 4 3. Betty Blackman, Retired Dean of the University Library, California State University, Dominguez Hills Chapter 5 4. Tyrone Cannon, Dean of University Libraries, University of San Francisco Chapter 6 5. James E. Crayton, Former Division Dean, Community Education Center, Pasadena, California Chapter 7 6. Loretta Dowell, Manager, Fisher Children's Center, San Francisco Public Library Chapter 8 7. Kaycee Hale, Director of Digital Research and Resources, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise, Los Angeles, California Chapter 9 8. Monteria Hightower, Retired State Librarian of Nevada and Former State Librarian of Missouri Chapter 10 9. Miles Jackson, Professor Emeritus and Former Dean, School of Library and Information Science, University of Hawaii, Honolulu Chapter 11 10. Guela Gayton Johnson, Retired Manager, Social Work Library, Univresity of Washington, Seattle Chapter 12 11. Rita W. Jones, Dean of Library and Learning Resources, City College of San Francisco Chapter 13 12. Gloria Leonard, Director, Washington Talking Book & Braille Library, Seattle, Washington Chapter 14 13. Effie Lee Morris, Retired Children's Services Coordinator, San Francisco Public Library Chapter 15 14. Barbara Murray, Director, Oxnard Public Library, Oxnard, California Chapter 16 15. Chris Poole-Jones, Educational Consultant, Retired School Administrator and Librarian, Portland Public Schools, Portland, Oregon Chapter 17 16. Judith Dickens Register, Former Director of the Scottsdale Public Library and First African American General Manager for the City of Scottsdale, Arizona Chapter 18 17. Kelly Richards, Former Branch Administrator, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Currently Assistant Director, Genesee District Library, Flint, Michigan Chapter 19 18. 'scar Sims, Former African American Bibliographer and Social Science Bibliographer Emeritus, University of California, Los Angeles Chapter 20 19. Bobbie Smith, Former Coordinator of Libraries, Long Beach City College, and Recently Retired Member and President, Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education Chapter 21 20. Joyce Sumbi, Retired Regional Library Adminstrator, Los Angeles County Public Library Chapter 22 21. Rosemary Towns, Retired Director, Richmond Public Library, and Former Systems Coordinator, North Bay Cooperative Library System, Richmond, California Chapter 23 22. Myrna Yvonne Williams, Retired System Reference Librarian, Portland Community College (PCC) Chapter 24 23. Lucy Wilson, Retired Public Services Librarian, Laney Community College, Oakland, California Chapter 25 24. Added Entries, "On the Line": Short Biographies of Selected California Librarians Part 26 Index Part 27 About the Editor

Editorial Reviews

Editor Binnie Tate Wilkin shares personal narratives from more than 20 librarians...Wilkin selects librarians who practiced their profession in the western United States and Hawaii, and made contributions to the advancement of African Americans and the profession. Included among the vanguard are Tyrone Cannon, dean of university libraries, University of San Francisco; Monteria Hightower, retired Nevada state librarian; and Barbara Murray, director of Oxnard (Calif.) Public Library.

American Libraries

...a work sure to be of interest to readers in many libraries. The editor has profiled an impressive array of librarians. Historians, library practitioners, and students of the African American experience will all gain from this informative work.

Journal of Access Services

This volume contains the firsthand accounts of 22 librarians who practiced in the Western U.S. and Hawaii and contributed to the advancement of African Americans in the profession and the general community. Presented as they were submitted, the offerings of these pioneering professionals range from personal narratives to instructive information.

Reference and Research Book News

Wilkin is aptly suited to tell the rich stories of African-American librarians....The book succeeds in its purpose to inspire and instruct African-American youths to pursue librarianship and younger African-American and other ethnic librarians to follow their dreams and continue the struggle for social justice and inclusion.

Multicultural Review

This volume profiles 23 African-American librarians who contributed to the advancement of the profession in Arizona, Nevada, California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest.

Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie

An admirable reference work of bibliographical information....There is no greater role model than editor Bonnie Tate Wilkin

Libraries and The Cultural Road - 2008

Editor Binnie Tate Wilkin shares personal narratives from more than 20 librarians...Wilkin selects librarians who practiced their profession in the western United States and Hawaii, and made contributions to the advancement of African Americans and the profession. Included among the vanguard are Tyrone Cannon, dean of university libraries, University of San Francisco; Monteria Hightower, retired Nevada state librarian; and Barbara Murray, director of Oxnard (Calif.) Public Library.

October 2006 American Libraries

Wilkin is aptly suited to tell the rich stories of African-American librarians....The book succeeds in its purpose to inspire and instruct African-American youths to pursue librarianship and younger African-American and other ethnic librarians to follow their dreams and continue the struggle for social justice and inclusion.

Spring 2007 Multicultural Review

This volume profiles 23 African-American librarians who contributed to the advancement of the profession in Arizona, Nevada, California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest.

February 2007 Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie

An admirable reference work of bibliographical information....There is no greater role model than editor Bonnie Tate Wilkin

Libraries and The Cultural Road

This volume profiles 23 African-American librarians who contributed to the advancement of the profession in Arizona, Nevada, California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest.

February 2007 Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie

This volume contains the firsthand accounts of 22 librarians who practiced in the Western U.S. and Hawaii and contributed to the advancement of African Americans in the profession and the general community. Presented as they were submitted, the offerings of these pioneering professionals range from personal narratives to instructive information.

August 2006 Reference and Research Book News

This volume profiles 23 African-American librarians who contributed to the advancement of the profession in Arizona, Nevada, California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest.

February 2007 Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie

This volume profiles 23 African-American librarians who contributed to the advancement of the profession in Arizona, Nevada, California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest.

February 2007 College & Research Libraries News