Black Caucus of the American Library Association

The Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) is an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA) that focuses on the needs of African American library professionals.

History

In 1969, E. J. Josey was appointed to the American Library Association Nominating Committee. For the 1970 Midwinter meeting, black librarians were encouraged to find socially responsible candidates, African American and Caucasian American, for the 1971 council. During the Midwinter meeting, a Black Caucus was formed to meet the unmet needs of the African American library professionals with Josey as the chairman.

The Black Caucus was not officially affiliated with the ALA until 1992; the first National Conference of African American Librarians (NCAAL) was also held in 1992.[1]

Membership

Fees/levels are:[2]

  • Student $10
  • Library Support Staff $20
  • Retired $25
  • Regular $45
  • Institutional/Institutions $60
  • Corporate $200
  • Lifetime $500

Governing structure

The BCALA has a president and works through their various committees.

Past presidents

Most presidents serve two to three consecutive years.

  • 1970-1971 – E.J. Josey
  • 1971-1973 – William D. Cunningham
  • 1973-1974 – James R. Wright
  • 1974-1976 – Harry Robinson, Jr.
  • 1976-1978 – Avery Williams
  • 1978-1980 – Dr. George C. Grant
  • 1980-1982 – Doreitha R. Madden
  • 1982-1984 – Robert L. Wright
  • 1984-1986 – Barbara Williams Jenkins
  • 1986-1988 – Marva L. DeLoach
  • 1988-1990 – Edith M. Fisher
  • 1990-1992 – John C. Tyson
  • 1992-1994 – D. Alex Boyd
  • 1994-1996 – Stanton F. Biddle
  • 1996-1998 – Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin
  • 1998-2000 – Gregory Reese
  • 2000-2002 – Gladys Smiley Bell
  • 2002-2004 – Bobby Player
  • 2004-2006 – Andrew P. Jackson (Sekou Molefi Baako)
  • 2006-2008 – Wanda Brown
  • 2008-2010 – Karolyn S. Thompson
  • 2010-2012 – Jos N. Holman
  • 2012-2014 – Jerome Offord, Jr.
  • 2014-2016 – Kelvin A. Watson

Committees

  • Affiliates
  • Awards Committee
  • Budget and Finance
  • Constitution and Bylaws
  • Dr. John C. Tyson (Award Committee)
  • Fundraising
  • International Relations
  • Membership
  • Nomination and Election
  • Program
  • Publications
  • Recruitment and Professional Development
  • Technology Advisory

Goals

Mission Statement (revised 1995)[1]

BCALA Mission: The Black Caucus of the American Library Association serves as an advocate for the development, promotion, and improvement of library services and resources to the nation's African American community; and provides leadership for the recruitment and professional development of African American librarians.

Awards

The BCALA offers awards for books, e-books, innovative leaders (referred to as trailblazers), and a scholarship in honor of E.J. Josey.

Awards are given for four categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry Collection, and First Novel.[3] Some of the recent book awards have been for The Twelve Tribes of Hattie and If One of Us Should Fall.[4]

Conferences

The National Conference of African American Librarians (NCAAL) has been held nine times since 1992. The August 2015 Conference was held in St. Louis, Missouri.

Publications

The BCALA publications include an Annual Report and Membership Directory and Newsletter.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Black Caucus of the American Library Association", American Library Association, April 19, 2007. http://www.ala.org/groups/affiliates/affiliates/bcala
  2. ↑ "Home".
  3. ↑ "Black Caucus of the American Library Association Literary Awards," Poets and Writers. http://www.pw.org/writing_contests/literary_awards_3
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2015-11-29.
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