ONE FAMILY’S STORY AT THE SCOTCH PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY

The public is invited to the Scotch Plains Public Library on Monday evening, April 14, at 7:30 pm when Barbara Polk Riley speaks about a family tradition and passion that, nurtured over the generations, became a much needed and incomparable resource for local library users.

Ms. Riley recently donated more than 2,000 books to the Plainfield Public Library, creating The Barbara Polk Riley African American Book Collection there. Plainfield Library Director Joseph Hugh Da Rold and Jessica Myers, head of the library’s Local History and Special Collections Department, will join Ms. Riley to recount the genesis of the resource that Mr. Da Rold calls “an extraordinary asset to the diversity collection for the benefit of future scholars.”

Ms. Riley will speak about the origins and development of her remarkable gift, beginning in the 1920’s with her father, Dr. Charles C. Polk, a general practitioner in Roselle and book-lover. Ms. Riley, a professional librarian, expanded and shaped the collection, drawing on her acquaintances in the black literary world. In Ms. Riley’s words, “The collection was used throughout the years as reference material for family and friends taking courses, due to the scarcity of materials available elsewhere. The purpose of the collection is to display the commonality of culture and the interconnectedness of fate, experiences and aspirations of people of African descent, especially the African American Experience throughout the 20th century.”

Hear more about how one family’s embrace of its heritage and passion for reading became a legacy for future generations, at this program offered by the Scotch Plains Public Library. Admission to the events is free, but pre-registration is highly recommended, as space is limited. Interested persons can register by calling the Scotch Plains library at 908-322-5007, x.204 or by e-mail to library@scotlib.org .

The presentations will be held in the Library’s Community room. All programs at the Library are free and open to all interested participants. The Scotch Plains Library is located at 1927 Bartle Avenue, one block from Park Avenue in the center of town. For further information or directions, please call 908-322-5007.

Scotch Plains Public Library
1927 Bartle Avenue
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
Contact: Pamela Brooks, Head of Reference and Adult Services, 908 322-5007, x.204

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This release was published on openPR.