Vivian Harsh, Adult Education, and theLibrary's Role as Community Center

摘要

Vivian Harsh, director of the Hall Library in Chicago from 1932 to 1958,took a pioneering approach toward adult education and the library's roleas community center. Harsh incorporated her active African Americancommunity into her library's educational and social planning, takingadvantage of the library's location in Bronzeville, her extensive socialties, and the Chicago Black Renaissance to get her patrons involved.Harsh's work is more remarkable because of the vivid contrasts betweenher successful approach to library science and that of other librarians ofher time period.