Black Culture, Literature Center Opens in Indianapolis

The new Center for Black Literature & Culture was unveiled in the historic west wing of Indianapolis’ Central Library on Saturday, Oct. 21, reports the Indianapolis Star. In partnership with the library’s African American History Committee, the space includes a 10,000-item collection of books, CDs, magazines, movies and research tools, all of which showcase Black history and culture. Twenty percent of the center’s collection is fresh materials that were bought specifically for the new center, said Deb Lambert, director of collection management for Indianapolis Public Library. The rest show off the range of resources the library system has collected over the years. It “made for a really deep and robust collection from a long time ago that wouldn’t have been available because it’s no longer in print,” Lambert said. Over the next five years, the center plans to increase that number to 40,000. All nine windows are covered by photographs of notable Black luminaries from Indiana, including jurist Tanya Walton Pratt, singer and record producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery. Kim Crowder, director of communications at the Indianapolis Public Library, said this is a synergistic learning space for everyone. “It’s going to be a place of education, conversation and inclusion,” Crowder said. “This is an expansion of learning about Black heritage (outside of the classroom).”