Virtual book talk | Public in Name Only: The 1939 Alexandria Library Sit-In Demonstration

Join the Georgia Tech Library online Tuesday, Feb. 25 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. for a virtual book talk with author Dr. Brenda Mitchell-Powell.

Mitchell-Powell’s Public in Name Only: The 1939 Alexandria Library Sit-In Demonstration is a powerful and evocative historical account that shines a spotlight on a pivotal moment in access and literacy. Set in Alexandria, Va., it chronicles the courageous actions of a group of African Americans who, in 1939, staged a sit-in at the city’s segregated public library, demanding equal access to knowledge and resources.

Through meticulous research and poignant storytelling, Mitchell-Powell brings to life the story of these brave individuals who defied the racial segregation policies of the time. While their actions may not have received the widespread attention of other Civil Rights protests, the Alexandria Library sit-in became a symbol of resistance and an early example of nonviolent protest institutional racism.

The book not only explores the events surrounding the demonstration, but also delves into the broader social and political climate of the era. It reflects on the courage of ordinary people standing up against injustice and offers readers a closer look at the deep-seated racial inequalities that African Americans faced in public spaces—libraries being a powerful symbol of access to information and opportunity.

Mitchell-Powell's narrative is both informative and inspiring, making it an essential read for anyone interested in the history of the Civil Rights Movement, social justice, and the ongoing fight for equality. Public in Name Only reminds us of the small yet significant acts of defiance that paved the way for larger social change.

About Dr. Brenda Mitchell-Powell
Brenda Mitchell-Powell earned her Ph.D. from Simmons University in Archives Management as an American Library Association (ALA) Spectrum Fellow in 2015. She received her master’s in library and information science, also from Simmons University, as an ALA Spectrum Scholar in 2008. 

Mitchell-Powell received a 2017 Library History Round Table Phyllis Dain Library History Dissertation Merit Award, as well as a Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service from the Afro-American Studies Librarians Section of the Association of College and Research in 1993. In 2009, she was elected to Beta Phi Mu, the international library and information science honor society.

After her tenure as editor-in-chief of Small Press™ magazine, the international organ of the independent publishing community, she created, edited, and produced MultiCultural Review, an international education and library resource. 

She regularly contributes book reviews to Libraries: Culture, History, and Society, the organ of the Library History Round Table. Her book Public in Name Only: The 1939 Alexandria Library Sit-In Demonstration won the 2023 Special Merit Award from the Alexandria Historical Society.