BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward County Library presents Cultural Conversations at the Center: "Black Women Leaders in Librarianship," a historic panel discussion from 6:30 to 9PM on Friday, April 8th at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC), 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, 954-357-6282.

The panel is part of the celebratory 20^th anniversary programs at AARLCC and is comprised of four Black women who have made noteworthy contributions to libraries and society. Honored guests include:

•    -Safiya Umoja Noble, Ph. D., is a library scholar/researcher, award-winning author of Algorithms of Oppression and recent MacArthur Genius Awardee.

•    -Meredith Evans, Ph. D., is a leader in cultural heritage. In 2015 Evans became the first African American woman to be appointed as a presidential library director and in 2018 became the 74th President of the Society of American Archivists (SAA).

•    -Nicole Cooke, Ph. D., is an award-winning scholar and thought leader in the areas of social justice, DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), and misinformation/fake news. She the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and Associate Professor, School of Library and Information Science, at the University of South Carolina.

•    -Tracie D. Hall is the first African American woman to lead the American Library Association (ALA) as Executive Director. The ALA is the largest professional library organization with membership totaling close to 60,000 members.

Throughout 2022, AARLCC will host a slate of exciting programs and events for its Vicennial of Black Excellence. A special exhibit will be on display in AARLCC's museum. Collectors' Duet: The Lifelong Librarianship of Vivian D. Hewitt and Dorothy Porter Wesley, showcases the career triumphs of two pioneering Black librarians through their writings, photographs and art collections highlighting the African diaspora. Both librarians are well represented in AARLCC's Special Collections.

Cultural Conversations at the Center is an AARLCC series and features intellectually stimulating programs with thought and industry leaders, scholars, educators, filmmakers, artists and others whose work celebrates and illuminates aspects of Black history and culture. Signed books will be given away at this event.

The event is free and registration is required. The series is generously sponsored by the Broward Public Library Foundation. For additional information on sponsorship and participation, contact AARLCC Regional Manager Makiba J. Foster at mjfoster@broward.org or 954-357-6176. Follow #AARLCCFOREVER. 

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