As you may know, February is Black History Month. If you don’t have time to stop by the Cumberland County Public Library for books about Black historic figures and pioneers, we still have online resources available for your research and learning needs.
First up is the African American Experience from our American Mosaic collection, which spans from African civilizations in the year 500 to modern times. Browse by time periods on the front page or use the search bar to find something specific.
If you need some pointers on using the database or need help with researching, American Mosaic has you covered with video instructions on using the database and other research and writing tips. If you get stuck, there’s even an option to communicate with a member of their staff for extra help.
Finally, for a curated list of articles, look at the bottom of the page. Current topics available are “Black History Month 2024,” “Nation of Islam,” “Black Resistance in the 20th – 21st Centuries,” and “Art of the Harlem Renaissance.”
But what if that’s too broad and you want to focus just on Black history in America? Great news, we have a database called Black Freedom Struggle in the United States that focuses on Black history from the 1790s to today. As with African American Experience, you can browse by time period and subject.
This database features historical documents to back up the information they give you, and they also provide resources for helping with your research and using the database.
If research isn’t your thing and you’re more interested in literature, we also offer a collection of Black poetry in African American Poetry. Introduce yourself to Black poets of the past from 1746 through the 1800s. If you’re not sure where to start, choose the browse feature, which brings you to a list of the authors represented on the database.
These resources and more can be accessed through our website by using the Resources and Research link on our home page. All our online resources are alphabetically organized for easy search and access. If you have any questions about our online resources or other services, we would be happy to hear from you at 910-483-7727.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for online, we have plenty of other options at all eight of our locations and we’re always happy to help you find what you’re looking for.
Avery Reinink is an adult services librarian at the Bordeaux Community Branch.
