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The Small Virtual Library

February 2024

The SmallVirtual LibraryFebruary 2024

Celebrate Black History Month

Black History Month was established to commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our nation made by people of African descent. American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week nearly a century ago. The event was first celebrated during the second week of February 1926, this week was selected because it coincides with the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and abolitionist/writer Frederick Douglass (February 14). That week would continue to be set aside for the event until 1976 when, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, it was expanded to a month. Since then, U.S. presidents have proclaimed February as National African American History Month.

The History of Black History Month The History of Black History Month

HISTORY OF | History of Black History Month

HISTORY OF | History of Black History Month

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This month's books feature biographies of Black Americans that have shaped and contributed to the progress of Black Americans in our country and the history of the United States.

Click on each image to learn more about the featured Americans.

The Fight for Freedom and Civil Rights The Fight for Freedom and Civil Rights

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Frederick Douglass: A Noble Life

Abolitionist, Civil Rights Activist, and Write

Available in the Small Library

Other Frederick Douglass biographies available in the library:


  • The Life of Frederick Douglass: A Graphic Narrative of a Slave's Journey from Bondage to Freedom
  • Escape from Slavery: The Boyhood of Frederick Douglass in His Own Words
  • Frederick Douglass, in His Own Words
  • Frederick Douglass: For the Great Family of Man
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John Lewis: American Politician and Civil Rights Icon

American Civil Rights Leader and Politician

Available in the Small Library

Other John Lewis biographies available in the library:

March Books 1, 2, & 3 - Graphic Novels

March is a vivid first-hand account of John Lewis' lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. Rooted in Lewis' personal story, it also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil rights movement.

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Ida B. Wells: Let the Truth Be Told

Writer and Public Speaker

Available in the Small Library

Other Ida B. Wells biographies available in the Small library:


  • Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement
  • Ida B. Wells: A Voice Against Violence
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Lifting as We Climb: Black Women's Battle for the Ballot Box

For African American women, the fight for the right to vote was only one battle.
This Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book and National Book Award longlisted work tells the important, overlooked story of black women as a force in the suffrage movement—when fellow suffragists did not accept them as equal partners in the struggle.

Available in the Small Library

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Mighty Justice: The Untold Story of Civil Rights Trailblazer Dovey Johnson Roundtree

A young reader's adaptation of Mighty Justice: My Life in Civil Rights, the memoir of activist and trailblazer Dovey Johnson Roundtree.

Available in the Small Library
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Harriet Tubman, Secret Agent: How Daring Slaves and Free Blacks Spied for the Union During the Civil War

This is the hidden war inside the Civil War--the daring work of African Americans who spied for the Union. It is a world of danger, of "Black Dispatches," of secret codes, and "The Secret Six."

Available in the Small Library

Political Leaders and Figures Political Leaders and Figures

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A to Z of African-American Political Leaders

Available on MackinVia
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President Barack Obama

44th US president and the first African-American president of the US.

Available on MackinVia

Biographies also available in the Small Library

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First Lady Michelle Obama

Attorney, author, and first African-American first lady of the US.

Available on MackinVia

Biography also available in the Small Library

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Colin Powell: General and Statesman

Politician, diplomat and retired four-star general who served as the first African-American Secretary of State.

Available on MackinVia

Biographies also available in the Small Library

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Condaleeza Rice

The first Black Female Secretary of State.

Available on MackinVia

Biography available in the Small Library

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Shirley Chisolm

The first African-American female elected to Congress

Click here to read all about her:

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/history/african-american-heroes/shirley-chisholm/

Biography available in the Small Library

Titans and Experts in Their Fields Titans and Experts in Their Fields

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Upclose: Oprah Winfrey

Talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist and media mogul.

Available on MackinVia

Additional biographies available in the Small Library

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Madam C.J. Walker: Entrepreneur

The first Black female self-made millionaire in America

Available on MackinVia

Biography also available in the Small Library

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Pathfinders

The Journey of Sixteen Extraordinary Black Souls

Available on MackinVia

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George Washington Carver: Planting Ideas

Agricultural scientist and inventor who developed hundreds of products. He was the most prominent black scientist of the 20th century.

Available on Sora

Biographies also available in the Small Library

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African American Inventors

For more than three centuries, African American inventors have been coming up with ingenious ideas. In fact, it is impossible to really know American history without also learning about the contributions of black discoverers. This collection brings their stories to life.

Available in the Small Library
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African American Entrepreneurs

America, always revered as the land of opportunity, is rich in stories about ambitious, determined individuals who worked hard and built businesses of their own. Yet, few people know about the many African American entrepreneurs who helped shape the American dream. This collection brings their stories to life.

Available in the Small Library

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Carter G. Woodson: Father of African-American History

Known as the "Father of " Carter G. Woodson was a scholar whose dedication to celebrating the historic contributions of Black people led to the establishment of Black History Month, marked every February since 1976.

Available in the Small Library
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Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story of Four African-American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation into Space

This edition of Margot Lee Shetterly’s acclaimed book is perfect for young readers. It is the powerful story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA who helped achieve some of the greatest moments in our space program.

Available in the Small Library

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Booker T. Washington: A Modern Moses

Booker T. Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and adviser to several presidents of the United States.

Available in the Small library.

Inspirational Athletes Inspirational Athletes

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Arthur Ashe: Tennis Great & Civil Rights Leaser

The first Black tennis player selected to the United States Davis Cup team and the only black man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open.

Available on MackinVia

Biographies also available in the Small Library

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Jackie Robinson: baseball Great and Civil Rights Activist

The first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era.

Available on MackinVia

Biographies also available in the Small Library

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Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball and is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

Available on MackinVia

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Wilma Rudolph: Track and Field Inspiration

World record holding Olympic champion, international sports icon, and civil right's and women's pioneer.

Available on MackinVia

Biography available in the Small Library

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Jesse Owens

Four time Olympic gold medalist and regarded as the greatest and most famous athlete in track and field history.

Available on Sora

Multiple Jesse Owens biographies are also available in the Small Library

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12 Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali

Known as "The Greatest," he is considered to be the

greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.

Available in the Small Library

Additional Muhammad Ali biographies are also available in the Small Library

Music Royalty Music Royalty

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Aretha Franklin

The Queen of Soul

Available on MackinVia

Biography available in the Small Library

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Jimi Hendrix

The greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music.

Available on MackinVia
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Stevie Wonder, Musician

Successful songwriter, musician, pioneer, and influencer.

Available on MackinVia

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Run DMC

The first hip-hop group to achieve a gold record.

Available on MackinVia
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Ray Charles

"The Genius" and pioneer of soul.

Available on MackinVia

Biography also available in the Small Library

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Spirit Seeker: John Coltrane's Musical Journey

Jazz saxphonist and composer.

Available on MackinVia

Legends and Firsts Legends and Firsts

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Up Close: W.E.B. Dubois

The first African American to earn a doctorate. Sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, author, writer, and editor.

Available on MackinVia
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Nat Love

One of the most famous heroes of the Old West.

Available on Sora

Biographies available in the Small Library

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Phyllis Wheatley

The first African-American author of a published book of poetry.

Available on Sora

Biographies available in the Small Library

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Spike Lee

Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy Award winning film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and professor.

Available on MackinVia

Biographies available in the Small Library

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Walter Dean Myers

Newbery Award winning and New York Times bestselling author of young adult and children's books. He has written more than 100 books and has won the Coretta Scott King Award 5 times.

Available on MackinVia

Biography available in the Small Library

38 Walter Dean Myers books available in the library!

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Up in the Air: The Story of Bessie Coleman

She was the first African-American woman and first Native American to hold an international pilot license.

Available in the Small Library

FOR FUN!! FOR FUN!!

Looking for a great podcast to listen to?

Click below for some great suggestions!
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To learn about all of our ebook libraries, click here!

Here are some videos to help you get started: Here are some videos to help you get started:

MackinVia MackinVia

About MackinVIA |

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Getting Started with Sora Getting Started with Sora

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Learn how to access ComicsPlus!
Learn how to access Teen Book Cloud!
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See all of the books Ms. Sylvia has recommended in the Small Virtual Library here!

Request an eBook Here
Want an eBook we don't have on one of our online platforms? Click the button above to request it!
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Connect with the Small Library and the Small Librarian, Ms. Sylvia

Stop by the library any time M-F between 8 am and 4 pm.

I check my email and Blend frequently M-F throughout the school day of 8 am to 3:50 pm.

Email: deanna.sylvia@austinisd.org
Website: http://smallmslibrary.weebly.com/
Location: Small Middle School, Monterey Oaks Boulevard, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: (512)841-6717

Deanna Sylvia
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