Toolkit

The Black History Month (BHM) Programming Toolkit was developed to support libraries nationwide in launching meaningful BHM programs. In January 2023, a dedicated Toolkit Taskforce was formed from members of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) with support from the Public Library Association (PLA). Drawing on resources from various American Library Association divisions, including the Office of Intellectual Freedom and YALSA, the Taskforce also consulted officials from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) to ensure the Toolkit’s content was thorough and accurate. In addition, the Toolkit Taskforce utilized materials developed as part of the IMLS Grant LG-246429-OLS-20, A Taxonomy of Black History Month Programming in Public Libraries, on the categories of BHM programs. The Toolkit features interactive guidance on coordinating BHM programming, sourcing relevant materials, and cultivating partnerships. Throughout development, the Toolkit received critical input from the project’s National Advisory Committee (NAC) via regular meetings, as well as feedback from presentations at major conferences such as the National Conference of African American Librarians (NCAAL) and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL). These contributions helped us refine the Toolkit, leading to its initial distribution in October 2024.

We received requests for the BHM Toolkit from people who participated in Pilot #2, attended the conference sessions mentioned above, and from other speaking engagements. Most requests came from respondents in our national survey who were not conducting BHM programming, and reached out to the research team via email specifically requesting the Toolkit. The field period for the National Study was September 2024 to early March 2025, so we received requests throughout that period. The Toolkit was disseminated to 62 public librarians, primarily those who had not previously conducted BHM programming or who had expressed interest during national surveys and conference sessions. Distribution occurred throughout fall 2024, intentionally timed to help libraries plan for Black History Month in February 2025.

Evaluation followed in March 2025, with participating librarians asked to assess the Toolkit’s practical usefulness. Twenty responses were received, indicating strengths and areas for improvement. While only a subset implemented BHM programs using the Toolkit, feedback highlighted challenges such as limited time and experience but also affirmed the Toolkit’s value.

After revision and review, the Toolkit is now publicly accessible, empowering libraries to create impactful BHM programs moving forward.