Amanda Rudd facts for kids
Amanda Sullivan Randle Rudd (born April 9, 1923 – died February 11, 2017) was an American librarian. She made history as the first African American and the first woman to lead the Chicago Public Library. She was called the Commissioner of the library.
Amanda Rudd's Journey
Amanda Rudd was born in Greenville, South Carolina. She went to college at Florida A & M University. Later, she earned her master’s degree in library science from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
While in Cleveland, she worked as a second-grade teacher. She then became the Assistant Director of School Libraries for Cleveland’s public schools. This job helped her learn a lot about how libraries work in schools.
In 1970, Amanda moved to Chicago. There, she worked for a company called Field Enterprises. She was an education consultant. Her job was to help schools use the company's book, World Book Encyclopedia, in their lessons.
In 1975, she joined the Chicago Public Library. She started as an assistant chief librarian. Her main focus was connecting with different communities. She wanted to make sure everyone knew about the library's services. Later, she became a deputy commissioner. Then, she served as an acting commissioner.
In 1982, Amanda Rudd was promoted to Commissioner of the Chicago Public Library. This was a very important moment. She was the first woman and the first African American to hold this top position. She left her role as commissioner in February 1985. However, she continued to work for the library as a consultant for two more years.
After her time at the library, Rudd worked for a book distributor called Baker & Taylor. She later retired. She lived in Cleveland and Washington, D.C., before settling in Atlanta, Georgia. Amanda Rudd passed away in Atlanta on February 11, 2017.
Making a Difference
Amanda Rudd believed strongly in fairness and variety in libraries. As Commissioner, she worked hard to help all communities in Chicago. She especially focused on Black and Hispanic communities. She wanted to understand their needs. Then, she made sure they could use all the services the Chicago Public Library offered.
In her work with Baker & Taylor, she created a special list of children's books. This list focused on books about African American culture. It was called an "annotated bibliography." This means it included notes and summaries for each book.
Amanda Rudd also helped many people who wanted to work in libraries. She was a mentor, guiding them in their careers. Some of the people she mentored became very important in the library world. These include Mary Ghikas, who works for the ALA. Another famous person she mentored is Carla Hayden. Carla Hayden used to be the president of the ALA. Since 2016, she has been the Librarian of Congress, which is a very high position in the library field.
