By Terry B. Hill
For much of the 20th century, public libraries were segregated, and those available to African Americans lacked funding and government support. In many communities, African Americans had no access to libraries at all.
Then, as now, it was up to African American librarians to make sure people in the African American community had access to information.
Although public libraries are no longer segregated by law, there is still a major gap in African Americans’ representation in the library profession. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, as of 2023, only 7% of professional librarians identified as Black or African American. This is especially problematic in urban settings, where the nation’s Black population is highest, averaging around 13%.
We don’t have specific data on African American representation in librarianship in urban locations, but one good proxy metric comes from the membership of the Urban Libraries Council, which represents 173 urban libraries across North America. Among this group of libraries, about 13% of the directors of these institutions identify as Black or African American. This is a promising statistic, but there is still more for us to do.
In Jersey City, we are committed to staffing our library in ways that reflect the incredible diversity of our community. We are proud of the fact that about 30% of professional librarians at the Jersey City Free Public Library are Black or African American.
It is important for youth to have role models who can champion the love of reading and learning. For adults, asking for help can be a very vulnerable experience; having access to a professional who looks like you and has shared cultural experiences allows for greater trust and meaningful relationships to be established.
In Jersey City, our commitment to equity in our libraries also includes equity of access to information. At the core of our mission as an urban public library is ensuring that underserved communities in Jersey City experience the best possible level of access to reputable information; what’s more, this is critical to the future of our democracy.
The late Congressman John Lewis said, “access to the internet ... is the civil rights issue of the 21st century.”
Digital equity is vital to navigating the information age and full participation in our digital society. Libraries provide the access points that serve as the foundation of digital equity: access to broadband internet, access to digital devices, and access to resources for computer and information literacy.
Here in Jersey City, all residents have ways to get these forms of access, free of charge, with a library card. (For details, go to jclibrary.org/get-a-library-card/).)
We encourage everyone in Jersey City to sign up for a library card and find out more about what the library offers. We are looking forward to your next visit!
Terry B. Hill is the director of the Jersey City Free Public Library.
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