Hallie Beachem Brooks facts for kids
Hallie Beachem Brooks (born in 1907, died in 1985) was an important African-American librarian and teacher. She helped many people learn to read and get a good education. She taught about libraries at Atlanta University. She also wrote many book reviews and helped young African-American students who wanted to become librarians.
Her School Days
Hallie Brooks loved learning!
- In 1924, she got a special certificate to work in libraries from Indiana.
- She earned her first college degree from Butler University in 1934.
- Then, she got another degree in library science from Columbia University in 1940.
- In 1946, she earned her master's degree from the University of Chicago. For this, she wrote about African-American magazines.
Working as a Librarian and Teacher
In 1942, Hallie Brooks started working at Atlanta University. She was a part-time teacher there. At the same time, she was also the librarian for the Atlanta University Laboratory Elementary School.
From 1942 to 1944, she led a special program. This program helped libraries in the southern United States. It gave them resources and advice. The goal was to make sure African-Americans could use and benefit from these libraries.
In 1946, Hallie Brooks became a full-time teacher at Atlanta University. Two years later, in 1948, she became an assistant professor. She kept working with the elementary school libraries too. By 1952, she was in charge of all the libraries there.
In 1954, she took a break from teaching. She traveled to Europe to visit libraries and learn new things. She became an associate professor in 1957. In 1959, she was promoted again to a full professor.
Hallie Brooks also helped edit a book in 1965. It was about how libraries could make education better in the South. She worked at Atlanta University for 47 years! She retired in 1977. In 1983, she was given a special honor called "Emerita status." This means she was still respected as a professor even after retiring.
Her Lasting Impact
The Library Science Department at Atlanta University still remembers Hallie Brooks. They sometimes give out a scholarship in her name. This helps new students who want to become librarians.
