Page 26 - BCALA Winter 2018

26 | BCALA NEWS | Volume 45, Issue 1 literature area. In 1993, after
West was promoted to assistant director, Carter was promoted
to head librarian of the Delmont Gardens Branch. Carter said she would remain branch manager until another Black librarian has been trained to take her place. Fortunately for Carter one of the two new Black librarians, hired by West, works at the Delmont Gardens Branch; alas, today the manager of the Delmont Gardens Branch is white.
Carter said her most memorable racist incident occurred in 1973, when she was applying for full- time employment at the East
Baton Rouge Parish school board. Her application, for some reason, was lost. Carter submitted two additional applications and those were lost as well. Carter told her story to a classmate who happened to be the sister-in-law of the mayor’s secretary (Mayor Woodrow “Woody” Wilson Dumas). After
a speedy but firm message from
the mayor’s office, Carter’s initial application was found. As for mentors, Carter says she did not have one; although, she had some friends. One friend was a white woman named Jenny Nia. Nia was her supervisor at Dufrocq and made it possible for Carter to secure employment at Baton Rouge High.
Carter’s Advise to young African Americans who are aspiring
to become librarians is “work hard, don’t expect or ask for
anything, pay your way,” but most importantly “use your brain.”
Geralyn Legard Davis attended McKinley High School. At one time McKinley was the only high school in Baton Rouge that African Americans were allowed to attend. Davis earned her bachelor’s degree in social welfare from SU. She
also earned a masters in sociology from SU and she earned 15 hours toward a doctorate degree in social work at LSU. After an unfulfilling career in social work, in 1987, Davis worked part time in reference for six months at the Central Library. By 1995, Davis had earned an MLS degree from LSU. In 1996, Davis became the manager of the Carver Branch, which in 1942, became
the first parish supported library for African Americans. The Carver Branch is also the neighborhood library Davis used as a child.
Davis said in her opinion the practice of racism is a part of the culture of East Baton Rouge Parish Public Library System. Davis also revealed that soon after she and Bobby Burns, a Black man, (library technician) began complaining
of the racism, Felicia West was appointed assistant director. Davis was one of West’s friends and colleagues who tried to convince West that she was skipped over for the position of director because East Baton Rouge Parish Public Library System is racist. Davis believes that her branch (Carver) was being denied funding due to
East Baton Rouge Parish Public Library’s method of measuring. Davis says her patrons utilize the material for projects and home work but seldom check items out. Since items are not checked out and checked in there is no way of determining whether or not her patrons are utilizing the items. Davis adds that if her branch had a door counter it would prove
the Carver Branch needed more funding but the administration says Carver can only get a door counter when circulation has improved. Davis feels this just an attempt by the administration to keep major funding for libraries in the white neighborhoods.
Davis says she did not have a mentor but she did have a professor who inspired her to go to school. Her professor taught her that the Black community must embrace reading because reading is the last vestige of slavery. To young African Americans aspiring to be librarians, Davis suggests “don’t be traditional, be assertive, be savvy, and sophisticated when dealing with people.” Her philosophy is “service coming in service going out.”
Today, ten years later, only one of the three pioneers, Geralyn Legard Davis, is still employed with the East Baton Rouge Public Library System. The other two has since retired. Davis has transferred twice to (Scotlandville Branch
& Greenwell Springs Regional Branch) manage larger libraries