Picturing America for Public Libraries

For Native American Heritage Month, our Southwest Branch location used four posters-- "Cover Illustration for the Last of the Mohicans," "Catlin Painting the Portrait of Mah-to-toh-pa," "Sans Arc Lakota Ledger Book," and "Pottery and Baskets, c.1100-1960." Our staff did some research and added value to the display by preparing explanatory text on the book by James Fenimore Cooper, historical facts about Chief Mah-to-toh-pa or "Four Bears" on the Mandans, and background on the Ledger Art of the Plains Indians. This display was enjoyed by library patrons of all ages in November, 2008. The photographic depiction, "Selma-to-Montgomery March for Voting Rights in 1965," was used twice at different locations. At the Southeast Branch Library, it was part of a display of materials about civil rights and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This included books and a looping showing of "In Remembrance of Martin," a PBS film that we had obtained permission to use. This display was in a busy public area and was seen by hundreds of library patrons in the month of January. In February, the Woodland West Branch used the same work to help celebrate African-American History Month, in addition to "Ladder for Booker T. Washington." Some of the Woodland West patrons recognized that work from their visits to the Modern in Fort Worth. The librarian commented that many people stopped to look at that piece and discuss it with one another, and really seemed to enjoy it.

Submitted by Andi Davis