ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


Ja n u a r y  1 9 9 5 /3 1

R a c i a l  &  

E t h n i c  

D iversity
Inform ation 

e x c h a n g e

Deborah Abston

Building bridges to 
unity
“People in Search o f Oppor­
tunity: The African-American 
Experience in Mercer County” 
is a community initiative de­
signed to build bridges to 
unity. The project is a joint 
initiative o f Pennsylvania 
State University Shenango 
Campus (PSUSC), the Mer­
cer County Historical Soci­
ety, and the Western Penn­
sy lv an ia C h ap te r o f the 
Afro-American Historical and 
Genealogical Society, Inc.

The project is threefold: a traveling exhibit, 
a continuing education course, and a compan­
ion text along with permanent bibliography. 
The multicultural project aims to provide an 
historical interpretation of the African Ameri­
can experience in Western Pennsylvania, to 
foster cultural awareness, and to convey em­
powerment through history.

Roland C. Barksdale-Hall, head librarian of 
PSUSC, and Robert B. Fuhrman, executive di­
rector o f the Mercer County Historical Society, 
are making arrangements for the travelling ex­
hibit. The plan is to use reproductions o f loaned 
historical materials to create an 11-panel ex­
hibit to be displayed in public gathering places 
such as libraries, schools, municipal buildings, 
and malls. Aspects to be depicted include: the 
family, the Underground Railroad, free black 
antebellum settlements, education, government 
service, and inventors. Site selection is under­
way for the exhibit.

Barksdale-Hall is currently writing a com ­
panion text (to be printed by PSUSC) that will 
contain a record o f the exhibit. Charles L. 
Blockson, a former Pennsylvania State Univer­
sity scholar, will write the foreword. The Carn­
egie Library of Pittsburgh will assist in the prepa­
ra tio n  and p rin tin g  o f th e p e rm a n e n t 
bibliography.

Submissions f o r  this colu m n shou ld be m ad e to 
D eborah Abston, h e a d  o f  current periodicals/m icro­
fo r m s a t A rizona State University, H ayden Library, 
B ox  871006, Tempe, AZ 85287-1006; p h o n e: 
(602) 965-6928/6392; fa x :  (602) 965-9169; 
Bitnet: iddxa@ asu acad; Internet: iddxa@asuvm. 
inre.asu.edu

The project has gener­
ated considerable commu­
nity support from the local 
media, the Shenango Valley 
Urban League, its Guild, the 
Mercer County Branch of the 
NAACP, the Mercer County 
G enealogical Society, the 
Farrell Area School District, 
and the Sharon H erald.

The mission of the PSUSC 
Library is to serve as a tradi­
tional academ ic library in 
addition to a cultural center. 
The library assumes the re­

sponsibility for providing an environment for 
lifelong learning by making available resources 
and services that educate, inform, and enrich 
the lives o f campus faculty, staff, and students, 
and the people o f the community.

For m ore inform ation co n c e rn in g  this 
p ro ject co n tact Roland C. B arksdale-H all, 
Head Librarian, Pennsylvania State Univer­
sity Shenango Campus, 147 Shenango Ave, 
Sharon, PA l 6 l 4 6 ; (4 1 2 ) 983-5875; e-mail: 
rcb@ psulias.psu.edu. ■

mailto:rcb@psulias.psu.edu