February has traditionally been set aside to celebrate Black History and contributions of African Americans to society. Not only should we celebrate and learn about Black History during this month, but we can also use the MeL eResources to create a multi-faceted view of the world, weaving stories and culture throughout a year of library programming. Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center from MeL is an eResource that is perfect for discovering content and ideas for programming. From learning about people to doing hands-on research and projects, it is a go-to eResource for a variety of interests.
Quilting
Quilting is a popular hobby that has deep cultural roots. Patrons can use Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center to discover quilting information such as patterns from African-American Quilt Patterns and the Underground Railroad in Antiques & Collecting Magazine and a profile of quilter Rosie Lee Tompkins in Entwined Threads from Magazine Antiques. Artist, curator, researcher, and author of And Still We Rise: Race, Culture, and Visual Conversations Dr. Carolyn L. Mazloomi is featured in Stories in the Cloth in American Craft, as well as in a profile in Quilting Arts Magazine.
Music
African Americans have deeply influenced music, and Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center can help us gain more knowledge about people such as Winston Holmes and his Meritt Record Label from IAJRC Journal and jazz violinist Ginger Smock in Strad. There is also a lesson plan about African American influence on music in Activate!: The Music Magazine for Grades K-6 that could be used as part of a program for children.
Genealogy
Genealogy programs are often popular in libraries. Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center has resources to help people of African American descent locate their ancestors. Family Chronicle includes an article about finding ancestors prior to 1866 while Internet Genealogy offers help for those searching for family members throughout the Great Migration. For patrons looking to understand the lives of their ancestors, Internet Genealogy also includes an examination of The Negro Travelers’ Green Book and its influence.
Using eResources to curate content for library programming is a great way to stretch your library’s budget and find excellent information that you may not have otherwise been able to access. The MeL Connections Guides for Adult Programming and Youth Programming can help you plan and execute programs using MeL’s free eResources such as Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center.
If you are having any issues linking to items on this page, please explore the MeL eResource Access Page. Contact melerhelp@mcls.org for help.
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