Resolution of Respect For
Sylvia Yvonne Sprinkle-hamlin (April 25, 1945 - January 3, 2022)
president, black caucus of the American library association, 1996-1998
“I have built a monument more lasting than brass, loftier than the royal structures of the Pyramids…” Horace “Exegi Monumentum Aere Perennius,” Book III, Ode XXX
Whereas, God, our loving Father, in the light of His wisdom, and in the magnitude of His power, has removed from our profession and from our Chain of Friendship, a shining link in the name of our dearest sister, Mrs. Sylvia Yvonne SprinkleHamlin, and added her precious link to the Friendship Chain of His Kingdom; and Whereas, Mrs. Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, a 1967 graduate (B.S. in Education) of Winston-Salem State University, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and a 1968 graduate of the historic School of Library Service, Atlanta University, Atlanta Georgia, where she earned a Master’s degree in Library Science, was a steadfast friend, devoted colleague, an admired and gracious mentor to generations of librarians throughout the United States; and, a respected public librarian and library leader, cultural activist, civil rights and community activist, loyal church worker, and long-time member and leader of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), Inc., whose departure we so deeply feel and whose life has been an example of Christian fortitude to her family, her friends, her community, and her colleagues throughout this nation; and
Whereas, Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin lent her gifts to public, school, and university libraries first as a Children’s Librarian, 1968 - 1970, Philadelphia Free Public Library, Philadelphia, Penn.; Information Specialist, 1970 -1971, Benjamin Banneker Urban Center, Philadelphia, Penn.; Instructional Media Center Director, 1973 - 1977, Philadelphia Public Schools, Philadelphia, Penn.; Assistant Director, Public Service Librarian, 1978-1979, Winston-Salem State University, WinstonSalem, North Carolina; and in 1979 beginning her forty-year career with the Forsyth County Public Library, Winston-Salem, North Carolina : Department Head, Children’s Outreach, from 1979 - 1980, where she provided in-service workshops for local educators, staff, and general public; Assistant Director, Extension Division, 1980 -1984; Associate Library Director, 1984-2000; Library Director, 2000-2019, where Sylvia was the first woman and first African American to hold this position; and, Whereas, Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, a visionary leader who diligently, enthusiastically, and effectively served the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), Inc., the largest, most powerful, and longest sustaining organization of African American librarians, library workers, publishers, and library trustees: as Chair of the first National Conference of African American Librarians, September 4-6, 1992 where the theme captured her cultured and purpose-filled spirit of: “Enlightening and Empowering Our Communities.” Sister Sylvia also chaired BCALA’s E.J. Josey Scholarship Committee, from 2011 through 2021; was a member of the BCALA Executive Board for many years, and a member of the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC) Steering Committee. In each position, she surpassed our greatest expectations. In 1996, we elected our highly respected and admired leader, Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, to serve as the 15th President of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, a position she held from 1996 to 1998, and embraced the challenge of leading members of BCALA to “arm our communities with literacy skills, access to information, and technology awareness.” Her accomplishments included growth in BCALA membership, expansion in the number of E.J. Scholarships awarded, creation of the BCALA Endowment Committee, support of the Spectrum Initiative, formation of Committee on Service to Children and the Black Family; and, Whereas, Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin further shared her leadership skills and commitment to equity with national and state-wide professional library associations and in the library services she developed, by advocating, planning, and promoting library services for every segment of the population while a leader
in the American Library Association: Member, ALA Council for four (4) years, 1992-1996; Member, Office for Library Outreach Services (OLOS) Advisory Committee, 1988 – 2000; Member, Council Committee on Minority Concerns, 1996 – 1997; Public Library Association (PLA) Board of Directors; LAMA Cultural Diversity Committee, and with many ALA awards and other committees. Sister Sylvia also cherished her service with the North Carolina Library Association: Member, North Carolina Library Association (NCLA) Executive Board, 1986; Chair, Roundtable for Ethnic Minority Concerns (NCLA, 1986); Chair, Public Library Section (NCLA), 1995. Whereas, Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin’s contributions to the community, her illustrious career of service, her gracious and giving spirit, her commitment to the preservation of African American history and culture, and four decades of a job well done have been acknowledged by many government, cultural, community, and professional entities, we earnestly understand how the shining link in the name of our dearest sister, Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, has most deservingly been added to the Friendship Chain of God’s Kingdom, and To paraphrase Maya Angelou’s “And Still I Rise”: Sister Sylvia brought the gifts to us that our ancestors gave, She represented the dream and hope of the slave. And so, she rises. As she rises, We rise. We still rise, as the legacy of this proud, intelligent, and “unapologetically Black” woman continues to empower us. Whereas, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc., the entire library profession, and communities throughout this nation have sustained a great loss in the home going of BCALA Past President Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, therefore be it
Resolved, that we eulogize her memory by trying to bring into our own lives that excellence and professionalism, coupled with grace, empathy, sustained commitment, vision, and purpose that made her life a worthy pattern for our emulation, and that we earnestly try to live as purposely and unselfishly as did BCALA Past President Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, and be it further
Resolved, that the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc., express its sincere sympathy to the family of BCALA Past President Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, that we place a copy of this resolution in the permanent archives of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc., and that we also send a copy of this resolution to the members of Sylvia SprinkleHamlin’s family, and the Forsyth County Public Library, in order to show her loved ones the high esteem in which we hold her life, legacy, and her memory. “One by one the links are severed from the golden chain of life; One by one our association is forming In the Father’s House above. Let our deeds be pure and noble May our lives be not in vain So that when the links are welded Complete again will be the chain.” Respectfully submitted, The Officers and Members of The Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc.
Shauntee Burns-Simpson Shauntee Burns-Simpson, President, (2020-2022) New York, New York January 11, 2022 Officers: Shauntee Burns-Simpson, (The New York Public Library, New York, New York), President Nichelle M. Hayes, (The Indianapolis Public Library, Indianapolis, Indiana), Vice President Brenda Johnson-Perkins, (Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, Maryland), Secretary Michele T. Fenton, (The Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, Indiana), Assistant Secretary Wanda Brown, (Winston-Salem State University, North Carolina), Treasurer Richard E. Ashby, Jr., (Sharon Hill Public Library, Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania), Immediate Past President History Committee: Sibyl E. Moses, Ph.D., (Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.), Chair Rhonda Evans, (Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library, New York, New York), Co-Chair