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The New John Henrik Clarke Africana Library

The John Henrik Clarke Africana Library is now located in a new building in North Campus along Triphammer Road. The painting of John Henrik Clarke (the library's namesake) greets people as they enter the library, and almost appears to keep watch over the library. Among the services that are offered at the Africana Library are six computer workstations, wireless Internet connection, and two visual stations. There are over 20,000 volumes of books. The library has current issues of 15 newspapers which highlight the Black experience in America and the diaspora. The high ceilings and large windows give library users a feeling of a wide-open space. One of the things that are most striking to first time visitors is the pine ceiling and the African mahogany beams. The earth-tone wall colors give the library a feeling of warmth. One thing that helps give the library an atmosphere where students enjoy researching and studying is Kwasi Seitu Asantey's "Black Cowboys" painting. This is loaned to the library by the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art. The painting features Black cowboys Isom Dart, Nat Love, and Bill Picket. The new library truly helps highlight the word "research" in Africana Studies and Research Center. Eric Kofi Acree, Africana Librarian