What Did Libraries Do For Martin Luther King Day?

Libraries standing with marginalized communities in the spirit of Dr. King

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While most libraries are closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, some take the opportunity to promote and celebrate the work and wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

It is important to acknowledge these local celebrations, given the current political and cultural pressures affecting marginalized communities and their history. Legislation and executive orders that seek to intimidate, suppress, or erase these communities are being implemented at multiple levels of government, so libraries should do what they can to address this deficit.

Here are some examples of events held during this year’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Bronze MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. bust by JOSEPH STEIN in entrance lobby to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (DC Public) Library by Elvert Barnes on Flickr (**CC BY-SA 2.0**)

Olean Library

The Race Unity Circle of Olean hosted an event at the Olean Library that began with a buffet consisting of an assortment of Dr. King’s favorite foods. This led to a viewing of the “I Have a Dream” and lesser-known “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speeches.

Individual speakers were then given the floor to recite more of Dr. King’s quotes and reflect on how they are just as relevant now as they were in his time.

Kimberly Weikert read statements from “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” and added her own thoughts: “This is the time we need to raise our voices and be heard. If we’re silent, we are also responsible for the failures of our government.”

Pastor Gerald Slack recounted stories of being profiled and having property destroyed by police officers.

Some attendees stated that they would be participating in a later protest at Lincoln Park focused on the actions of the Trump administration and ICE, particularly the recent killing in Minneapolis.

Inauguration/MLK day event by Z. Smith Reynolds Library on Flickr (**CC BY-NC-SA 2.0**)

Downtown Lafayette Library

The focus of this event in Tippecanoe County was the keynote speaker Dr. Anne Edwards of the Association for Black Cultural Centers. Some of her main points were:

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“We’re talking about making sure that people are fed, making sure that people are warm, it’s cold outside . . . making sure that people are reading, and learning right about themselves and the world and each other.”

“We all bring something to the table. We all have our part to play in making sure that this thing goes well. . . . Bring your authentic, vulnerable self to the table, and somebody is going to be able to benefit from that.”

MLK Day Display by Pesky Librarians on Flickr (**CC BY-NC-ND 2.0**)

MLK Library

Milwaukee Public Library’s Martin Luther King Branch naturally uses this holiday to celebrate and advocate for the mission of its namesake.

This event focused on community engagement and leveraging the library’s ability to support the residents of its surrounding neighborhoods. This was achieved through makerspace activities, the “Mural of Hope,” and a community art project put forward by a local artist known as EGO the Artist.

This celebration comes not long after the branch reopened following its two-year-long renovation. One significant change is the introduction of apartment spaces to bolster the library’s ability to support its community.

Libraries are uniquely positioned to engage with, support, and promote marginalized communities. In the face of acts of aggression and erasure from various levels of government, it is more important than ever for those who can give to support these institutions in their battle to fill the many vacancies left by modern political and legislative trends.

Furthermore, it is crucial for LIS professionals to seriously consider how their resources can be directed toward combating oppression and how biases or misunderstandings may influence their current practices.

Martin Luther King Jr. believed libraries could be the bastions of community support that modern librarians dream of. Therefore, all that’s needed is the time, resources, and individuals necessary to make that a reality.

Visit www.everylibrary.org to learn more about our work on behalf of libraries.

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