Are You a Librarian Collection

Are You a Librarian is a feature documentary, now available to stream. Its purpose is to document and bring to light the often-overlooked history, contributions, and experiences of Black librarians in the United States. The film travels through multiple eras—from slavery through the era of Jim Crow, desegregation, affirmative action—to the present day, tracing how Black people have shaped librarianship, worked to expand access to literacy and information, and pushed against systemic barriers.

The documentary weaves personal interviews, oral histories, archival materials (photos, documents, footage), and historical research. It highlights contributions of individuals and institutions—ranging from school and HBCU libraries to public and “freedom libraries”—and situates librarianship as part of broader struggles around civil rights, intellectual freedom, access to information, and community empowerment. Rent the film for $3.99 →

Are You a Librarian documentary

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Photographs

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Documents

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Archives and Human Rights — interview with Marcela Rodriguez

Oral Histories

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Engagement Tools

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Where History Meets
Innovation