In 1915, in response to the lack of information on the accomplishments of Black people available to the public, historian Carter G. Woodson co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. In 1926, the group declared the second week of February as “Negro History Week” to recognize the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history. Few people studied Black history and it wasn't included in textbooks prior to the creation of Negro History Week. 

Black History Month was created to focus attention on the contributions of African Americans to the United States. It honors all Black people from all periods of U.S. history, from the enslaved people first brought over from Africa in the early 17th century to African Americans living in the United States today. 

Among the notable figures often spotlighted during Black History Month are Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who fought for equal rights for Blacks during the 1950s and ’60s; Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American justice appointed to the United States Supreme Court in 1967; Mae Jemison, who became the first female African-American astronaut to travel to space in 1992; and Barack Obama, who was elected the first-ever African-American president of the United States in 2008. 

Since the first Negro History Week in 1926, other countries have joined the United States in celebrating Black people and their contribution to history and culture, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. 

Libraries play a vital role in creating spaces where all children can thrive. When children have the freedom to choose books and resources that reflect their interests, it nurtures a love of reading and learning. By offering diverse age-appropriate materials that represent different cultures, perspectives, and experiences, libraries help children understand the world around; them; building empathy, broadening their horizons and ensuring a sense of belonging.

Inclusion is equally important—libraries strive to be welcoming spaces for everyone, fulfilling a fundamental human need for connection and acceptance. By supporting these values, we can help our children grow into open-minded, compassionate individuals, ready to contribute to an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.  

In the second week of November we will celebrate Open Books, Open Minds Week. A celebration of literacy and intercultural understanding. Through this celebration, we honor the fundamental right to read freely and promote the idea that books should be accessible to everyone, regardless of background or beliefs.