African American Research Library and Cultural Center Special Collections Preservation Project

FAIN: PG-266661-19

Broward Public Library Foundation (Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301-1830)
Brittney Farley (Project Director: January 2019 to August 2019)
James B. Jones (Project Director: August 2019 to January 2026)

A preservation assessment of the library’s special collections and archives, which contain more than one million items, including rare books, artifacts, artwork, manuscripts and reference materials.  Highlights include print materials from the personal library of Dorothy Porter Wesley (1852-1995), the first African American to graduate from Columbia University’s school of library science.  The library also holds manuscript collections pertaining to Alex Haley (1921-1992), author of the 1976 novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family, and actress Esther Rolle (1920-1998), best known for her role as Florida Evans on the television series Good Times.  Situated in a historically black community, the library features artifacts and photographs from its special collections and archives in regular exhibits and serves researchers working on historical, journalistic, and genealogical projects.

The African-American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) is seeking support for the development of a two stage preservation initiative. The first stage will employ an external consultant to create a comprehensive preservation assessment report. The purpose of the assessment is to provide an actionable report of archival planning needs and will serve as documentation for future institutional budgeting. The second stage will be the implementation of two preservation workshops. AARLCC is located in the oldest historically black community in Broward County, Florida. As the surrounding neighborhoods undergo a change in population, it is of great importance to collect and preserve the history of the local community. The proposed workshops seek to capture the underrepresented narratives of this community and encourage residents to consider donating their materials to AARLCC.