Page 9 - BCALA Winter 2018

New York Black Librarians
Caucus Announces First Library
Support Staff Scholarship
By NYBLC
The New York Black Librarians Caucus (NYBLC) presented its first Andrew ‘Sekou’ Jackson Library Support Staff Scholarship at their annual librarians’ ball in Harlem, New York. The recipient of the scholarship is Mary Smith, a program planner with Queens Library’s Programs and Services Department since 1997. Smith is earning her undergraduate degree in sociology at York College (CUNY) and expects to graduate in June. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue an MLIS.
In her essay, Smith wrote of her experience at Queens Library, “I’ve acquired a great deal of knowledge and hands-on experience working with amazing library professionals. In fact, I’ve matured professionally under the leadership of many librarians and other library
professionals...I would like to develop programs that will expose youth to ideas they may never have had... outside of libraries. Libraries continue to rise and my goal is to continue to be a part of the magic that happens every day.”
This scholarship is in recognition of Andrew ‘Sekou’ Jackson, who retired in 2016 after a distinguished career as executive director of Queens Library’s Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center. He is also a past president of BCALA (2004- 06) and was appointed to Queens Library’s Board of Trustees by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. He is the first librarian and former staff member to be a member of the board.
BCALA NEWS | Volume 45, Issue 1 | 9