Does the name Langston Hughes ring a bell for you? The Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center stands before us. This library is more than just books. It embodies a community’s spirit and honors a literary giant.
Founded in 1969 it became the first public institution named after Langston Hughes. Hughes was a celebrated African-American poet and writer. He was also a significant LGBT individual. The Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center inadvertently honors him. Hughes’s works often featured Harlem and its people. He earned the title Poet Laureate of Harlem.
Initially the library was an experiment. It was located in a former Woolworth’s storefront. The library focused on Black culture. Full branch library status was granted in 1987. The current building opened in 1999. Davis Brody Bond designed it. An image of Hughes adorns the main entrance. An excerpt from one of his poems is there too.
The Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center began with local activism. The Library Action Committee of Corona-East Elmhurst drove its creation. This committee identified needed services in the largely Black neighborhood. Helen M Marshall served as the library’s first executive director. She later became Queens Borough President. The committee still operates the library’s Homework Assistance and Cultural Arts Programs.
The Langston Hughes Library houses the Black Heritage Reference Center of Queens County. It is the state’s largest public circulating collection on Black heritage. It holds roughly 45000 titles. There are about 1000 theses and dissertations on Black literature.
In 2013 the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center gained recognition. United for Libraries named it a Literary Landmark. The Langston Hughes Library stands as a touchstone. It reminds us of advocacy’s importance. It also highlights activism’s role in shaping communities. This Woolworth’s was once the site of civil rights struggles. They aimed to break the color barrier for hiring in Queens.
The Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center isn’t just a library. It’s a living testament to a poet’s legacy. It is a beacon of Black culture. It is a symbol of community empowerment. Take a moment to appreciate the richness it offers.