The Black American Library Card Project is a community partnership for a limited-edition library card celebrating the history, contributions and culture of Black Americans.
In June 2021, Brooklyn Public Library released a limited-edition library card celebrating Black American history, contributions and culture, in partnership with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Brooklyn’s Community Boards. The card was released as part of Brooklyn Public Library’s Juneteenth 2021 celebrations, the first year Juneteenth was recognized as a City, State and public school holiday.
This project began as a proposal from Wendy A. Robinson from Community Board 3’s Parks, Arts & Culture Committee to celebrate and raise awareness of the African American Heritage Center at Macon Library. BPL is grateful to Wendy A. Robinson and other Community Board 3 Members for their work developing this idea.
In January 2021, BPL put out an open call for artists to submit their designs for a library card. The designs were reviewed by a panel of BPL staff and community stakeholders. The finalists had their works displayed and the selected designer received a $2,000 stipend for their work.
This limited-edition card was released Summer 2021 at the African American Heritage Center at Macon Library and is available at all library branches in Brooklyn that are issuing library cards.
This card is BPL's first in a planned series of Celebrating Heritage library cards.
Project Partners
- Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams
- Community Board 2
- Community Board 3
- Community Board 4
- Community Board 5
- Community Board 6
- Community Board 8
- Community Board 9
- Community Board 10
- Community Board 13
- Community Board 14
- Community Board 16
- Community Board 17
Upcoming Events
World Cup 2026 Watch Party: Kickin' It at Leonard Library: France vs. Morocco
Watch the World Cup at Leonard Library—for free, of course! BPL’s neighborhood libraries will play select games throughout the tournament, and New Yorkers of all ages are invited to join the fun.
World Cup 2026 Watch Party: Kickin' It at Leonard Library: Spain vs. Belgium
Watch the World Cup at Leonard Library—for free, of course! BPL’s neighborhood libraries will play select games throughout the tournament, and New Yorkers of all ages are invited to join the fun.
Painting American Eagles and other Birds of Prey with Henry Li
This is a focused, nine-week journey into painting a variety of American eagles and other American birds of prey with Chinese brush and watercolor. The instructor will teach via Zoom. Registration online is required for all participants, only once, regardless of which session you…
STONE AVENUE Ancestry Workshop
Are you trying to start a family tree and don't know how to get started? Do you have questions about your heritage and where to look for answers?
Well Stone Avenue is having Monthly Ancestry Workshops and we will help you get started on the path to finding the answers to your…
Painting American Eagles and other Birds of Prey with Henry Li
This is a focused, nine-week journey into painting a variety of American eagles and other American birds of prey with Chinese brush and watercolor. The instructor will teach via Zoom. Registration online is required for all participants, only once, regardless of which session you…
Painting American Eagles and other Birds of Prey with Henry Li
This is a focused, nine-week journey into painting a variety of American eagles and other American birds of prey with Chinese brush and watercolor. The instructor will teach via Zoom. Registration online is required for all participants, only once, regardless of which session you…
Painting American Eagles and other Birds of Prey with Henry Li
This is a focused, nine-week journey into painting a variety of American eagles and other American birds of prey with Chinese brush and watercolor. The instructor will teach via Zoom. Registration online is required for all participants, only once, regardless of which session you…
Painting American Eagles and other Birds of Prey with Henry Li
This is a focused, nine-week journey into painting a variety of American eagles and other American birds of prey with Chinese brush and watercolor. The instructor will teach via Zoom. Registration online is required for all participants, only once, regardless of which session you…
Painting American Eagles and other Birds of Prey with Henry Li
This is a focused, nine-week journey into painting a variety of American eagles and other American birds of prey with Chinese brush and watercolor. The instructor will teach via Zoom. Registration online is required for all participants, only once, regardless of which session you…
Painting American Eagles and other Birds of Prey with Henry Li
This is a focused, nine-week journey into painting a variety of American eagles and other American birds of prey with Chinese brush and watercolor. The instructor will teach via Zoom. Registration online is required for all participants, only once, regardless of which session you…