John C. Tyson (librarian) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John C. Tyson
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| Born | August 4, 1951 Richlands, Virginia |
| Died | November 7, 1995 (aged 44) |
| Occupation | former State Librarian of Virginia |
John C. Tyson was born on August 4, 1951, and passed away on November 7, 1995. He made history as the very first African-American State Librarian of Virginia. This important role meant he was in charge of all the public libraries and library services across the state.
John Tyson earned several college degrees. He received his first degree from Concord College in West Virginia. Later, he earned master's degrees from the University of Illinois and West Virginia University. He then went on to get his doctorate degree in library administration from Simmons College in Boston.
Leading Virginia's Libraries
In 1990, Governor Douglas Wilder chose Dr. Tyson to be the Virginia State Librarian. This was a very significant moment. Dr. Tyson was the first African-American person to hold this position in Virginia. He was also only the second person of color in the entire United States to lead a state library system.
Connecting Libraries for Everyone
Dr. Tyson strongly believed that everyone should be able to use library resources. He worked hard to make this happen. He led efforts to connect the Library of Virginia with all other libraries across the state. This made it easier for people to access books and information from anywhere in Virginia.
A Champion for Libraries
Before becoming the State Librarian, Dr. Tyson worked for five years at the University of Richmond. There, he served as the University Librarian. He was also a very important founding member of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. This group works to support African-American librarians and improve library services for all communities.
