The Black Heritage Collection of the Roosevelt Public Library houses a comprehensive reference and circulating collection of print and non-print materials written about and related to Black Culture. It is a wide range that covers all facets of Black life for adults and young adults on the history and culture of Africans, African Americans and Caribbean Americans.

 

Other materials examine, describe or depict the experiences of Black people including art, literature, music, sports, politics and more. Additionally, there are a large number of children’s books (biographies, fiction, non-fiction, and reference) housed in the Children’s and Young Adult areas.

 

Unique to the collection, is the recently donated Kenneth Jenkins Collective. This massive collection is a powerful glimpse into the mind of a Renaissance Man and former Dept. Chair of Africana Studies at Nassau Community College. Prof. Jenkins’ prized collection brings much excitement to the Roosevelt Community. 

 

The mission of these two collections is to enrich the lives of Roosevelt residents, students of all ages, and visitors. We intend to foster tolerance and understanding among all cultures and to stimulate an appreciation for the diversity of the African American Experience. The collections accomplish its mission by inspiring the public to explore the rich history of the Roosevelt community and other cultural traditions. We strive to be a beacon in conserving African American History.

 

Our 25,000 volume collection continues to grow, containing recreational reading as well as resources for study and research. The collection is used by students at all levels of education, parents, teachers, as well as the casual browser. In 2017, Harper Perennial and the Reference and Users Services Association of the American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago, Il., proudly presented the Zora Neale Hurston Award honorable mention to Carol Gilliam, Black Heritage Librarian, for her outstanding leadership in promoting African American literature. This has been a tremendous honor for the library and the Roosevelt community. We are the third largest Black Heritage Collection in the state of New York. Presently, the collection is housed on the first floor of the newest building.

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