Centering Black Culture 

Nichelle Hayes has two major passions: her work as a genealogist and the library. She’s married the two, coupling her love of family history with the research skills of librarianship. She is a genealogist with a focus on African ancestry and a special collections librarian with a focus on the African diaspora.

Hayes’s library career began with an MLS fellowship through Indiana Librarians Leading in Diversity, thanks to a tip from archivist and librarian Kisha Tandy. “Without the fellowship, I would likely not be a librarian,” says Hayes.

Hayes is the founding leader of the Center for Black Literature and Culture at the Indianapolis Public Library (IPL), serving as project manager, curator, marketer, librarian, program specialist, and African diaspora subject matter expert. Since it opened in 2017, more than 85,000 people have visited the Center, attending author events and programs such as That Peace Open Mic, Indy Bookfest, and an annual Kwanzaa event; as well as using the space for meetings, studying, relaxing, and learning. Many young Black people have been inspired by the opportunity to learn more about Black history and see themselves reflected in positive and powerful ways.

During the pandemic, she transitioned the center’s signature programs to a virtual environment. And in summer 2020, Hayes also coordinated a display—later a permanent part of the IPL collection—of replicas of local protest murals that can be borrowed.

Hayes also finds time to give back to the larger field. She currently serves as vice president/president elect of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), and has worked with many other local and national organizations.

Nominator Twanna Hodge, diversity, equity, and inclusion librarian at the University of Florida Libraries, says the center’s success is due to “the way in which Hayes has combined forces with different organizations and community groups that have similar goals. These coalitions have enabled wonderful programs to take place and have exposure to large sections of the community.”