Lubbock library program honors African American librarians, past employees

The Patterson Branch of the Lubbock Public Library held an African American History Month program and reception to honor African American librarians and library employees; the meeting record does not specify the event date.

Organizers said the program highlighted both the history of exclusion Black readers faced and the role libraries and Black librarians have played in expanding access to books and information. "Black history is American history," Lubbock City Council District 2 Councilman Gordon Harris told the audience, tracing local contributions from T.J. and Bobby Jean Patterson to educators and community leaders in Lubbock.

The program mixed short talks, a recorded piece about librarianship, student theater performances and musical selections. Theresa Wilson, branch manager at Patterson, thanked current and former library staff and urged family participation: "We are more than books, and that's the thing we gotta let people know," she said, noting the library as a free community resource and encouraging families to bring children to programs.

Speakers emphasized local history and the library's role in both segregation-era exclusion and later access. A recorded introduction noted that in 1954 "the Supreme Court ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional," and Trustee Mary Ann Lawson told the audience that "The Civil Rights Act of 1964 specifically outlawed discrimination in public accommodations like public libraries." Several speakers tied those national developments to local stories and to the Patterson branch's namesakes.

Family members and colleagues spoke about the system's earliest Black employees. Jamie Wynne introduced herself as the daughter of Deborah Wynne and said of her mother, "My mom retired in 2013 after 33 dedicated years at the Lubbock Library System," describing a career that began at the George and Helen Mahon Library in 1979. Dr. Solomon Fields, pastor at Saint John Baptist Church, spoke on behalf of Helen Visor Fitzgerald and described Fitzgerald's community and church leadership; program organizers identified Fitzgerald as the city's first African American librarian.

The program included a video and spoken-word pieces that framed librarians as "keepers of the written fire," student performances from the McCool Academy theater arts department, and a musical close. Duke Holmes, a Dunbar High School graduate and retired assistant principal, used a children's book about John Lewis to underline the theme of access to knowledge and quoted Lewis: "we all came on different boats, but we all in the same boat now." Filmmaker and community volunteer Ricky Sherfield produced a video segment showcased at the event.

Organizers presented certificates to past and present library employees; several retired staff and former employees attended from outside Lubbock. Teresa Wilson announced certificates and invited attendees to a reception with light refreshments following the program. The program closed with a performance of "Lift Every Voice" and a reception in the community room.

The record does not show formal votes, policy actions, or funding decisions tied to the program; remarks focused on honoring past employees, encouraging library use, and local history.