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Sometimes, if you don’t know where you’ve been, it’s hard to move forward. In today’s world, there is an active movement to erase history and relegate it to the bottom of the shelf. Through my documentary work, I’ve tried my best to tell the stories of Black librarians—from their many achievements to their present trials and tribulations. With so many compelling narratives, we created separate channels to include stories that couldn’t fit into the two-hour documentary. One story I wish we could have highlighted more prominently was the story of Nashville’s Negro Public Library.
The Nashville Negro Public Library
Many people know the story of the civil rights movement in Nashville and the role leaders like John Lewis played, but few know the story of the Negro Public Library. The Negro Public Library was Nashville’s segregated Black library, and its story represents both triumph and the persistent inequalities that continue today. While researching for my documentary, Are You A Librarian? Black Librarians and Freedom Through Literacy, I uncovered this library’s remarkable history. I also reached out to Linda Harrison, a legendary Black librarian here in Nashville, to provide context about what this library meant to the Black community and why Black librarianship remains so vital.
According to historical records and scholars who study this era, the library’s creation was driven by Black citizens who joined together to establish their own institution of learning. The major force behind making the library happen was the Nashville Board of Trade, whose members included James C. Napier and notable Black community leaders like Calvin and Moses McKissack, R.H. Boyd, and Preston Taylor of One Cent Savings and Trust Bank.
Their most significant achievement was establishing Nashville’s first Black public library. The Nashville Negro Board of Trade raised $1,000 from the African American community to purchase land for the building. Andrew Carnegie, the philanthropist who funded many public libraries nationwide, provided the construction funds. While Carnegie never specified that his libraries had to be segregated or integrated, his main concern was whether groups could raise the money, provide the land, and sustain the building. For Nashville, he provided between $20,000 – $25,000 for the Black citizens’ library.
The Negro Public Library opened on February 10, 1916—110 years ago. The building featured two large reading rooms, a substantial auditorium, and smaller meeting rooms. This was critically important because Black libraries served as community centers and gathering places. Remember, Black people were not allowed to visit white libraries and were restricted in where they could convene. Having a library that served as a true community and learning center was a victory for Nashville’s Black community. As the saying goes, knowledge is power—but to gain that power, you need access.
The Legacy Continues: Linda Harrison’s Journey
To understand why this history matters today, I interviewed Linda Harrison of the Nashville Public Library. I wanted to speak with someone who embodies what Black librarianship represents and why it remains significant. Linda’s passion for serving her community reveals how libraries can transform lives.
Harrison’s journey into librarianship began in Las Vegas, where she worked in broadcasting before a Black librarian, Marie Jordan, recruited her into the profession. “If it hadn’t been for a Black librarian recruiting me, I might never have become a librarian,” Harrison explained. “Black students are generally not encouraged to enter this field.”
When Harrison first started working at the West Las Vegas Library, she was asked to visit other branches throughout the city. What she discovered shocked her: massive disparities in resources, collection development, and building quality based on zip code and neighborhood demographics. Libraries in Black and Hispanic areas had limited collections focused primarily on entertainment books, music, and cookbooks. Meanwhile, suburban libraries received newer, more current academic resources.
“These disparities weren’t accidental,” Harrison said. “They were systemic.”
Harrison has been with Nashville Public Library for 27 years and has managed 16 of the system’s 21 locations. Currently serving as assistant director for education and literacy, she oversees divisions responsible for roughly 80% of the library’s services. When I asked about Nashville’s historically Black libraries, her response was sobering.
“The so-called Black libraries—Hadley Park, Bordeaux, Edgehill, North, and others—are located in predominantly Black neighborhoods,” Harrison explained. “They’re often older, smaller buildings with very small collections and minimal staffing. Many still operate almost identically to how they did when I arrived in 1998 because they haven’t received sufficient investment.”
One exception was the Bordeaux library, which was successfully converted to a regional library.
The Power of Information
What drives Harrison to continue in this field despite the obstacles? Her answer cuts to the heart of why libraries matter.
“Libraries are the keepers of information and represent democracy at its highest,” she said. “But people of color often don’t understand the wealth of free information available to them for self-elevation. Librarianship is about the power of information. Many resources—government documents, statistical data—are guarded. I believe that’s one reason Black individuals are discouraged from entering the profession.”
Harrison successfully revitalized a branch between two housing projects that had been considered the worst library in Nashville. She did this by connecting with the community and promoting free resources like computer and literacy classes. Her approach demonstrated that libraries can be transformative when they’re properly resourced and led by people who understand the communities they serve.
A Living Legacy
Linda Harrison didn’t serve at the Negro Public Library—that building closed decades ago—but she is the living embodiment of its legacy. Black librarianship is about true community immersion, about understanding that libraries are a foundation and example of what democracy should look like.
“My ‘why’ for continuing in librarianship is to expose people of color to this institution and demonstrate how it can benefit not just them individually, but their entire family,” Harrison said. “I find immense joy in the success of the Black people I’ve mentored into the field. Some have become directors themselves.”
She shared a touching story about teaching children at the Hadley Park Library to correctly pronounce “library” and understand it as an “institution of higher learning.” Some of those children later entered the field of education because of that interaction.
Harrison’s advice for new librarians? “Fully immerse yourself in your community by getting to know key local figures and organizations. Constantly introduce unconventional library resources beyond books—educational kits, digital resources for seniors, business planning assistance. Draw people into the building.”
She emphasized that experience, not just library school, will be a librarian’s true teacher. “This job is fundamentally about people, often requiring you to function as a social worker. You need a deep love for all people, regardless of background, and a passion for helping them. Libraries are an example of democracy where everyone should be treated with kindness and respect.”
Why This History Matters
The story of Nashville’s Negro Public Library—built by a community that pooled its resources to create a space for learning despite segregation—mirrors the challenges that persist today. The disparities Harrison observed in Las Vegas in the 1990s echo in Nashville’s historically Black libraries in 2026. The glass ceiling she’s faced reflects barriers that discourage Black professionals from entering and advancing in librarianship.
This isn’t a story of struggle. It’s a story of resilience, of the transformative power of access to information, and of individuals like Linda Harrison who continue fighting to ensure that libraries fulfill their democratic promise for all communities.
As Harrison put it: “In a democracy, everyone should be treated with kindness, love, and respect. That’s what librarianship is about.”
That’s the legacy of the Negro Public Library. That’s the legacy Linda Harrison continues to build, one community member, one mentee, one library at a time.
You can check out Rodney Freeman’s YouTube channel, where you can view the full version of the interview with Linda Harrison.
Photography provided by: Special Collections Division, ‘Nashville Public Library
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