BETWEEN ABSENCES AND SILENCING: BLACK LITERATURE IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES

BLACK LITERATURE IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Authors

  • Marilucia Antonia de Sousa Universidade Federal do Cariri image/svg+xml , Centro Cultural Banco do Nordeste - CCBNB Cariri
  • Leyde Klebia Rodrigues da Silva Federal University of Bahia image/svg+xml , Universidade Federal do Cariri image/svg+xml

Keywords:

Black literature, public libraries, representation, anti-racist collections, ethnic-racial relations

Abstract

Public libraries constitute spaces for democratizing access to information, knowledge, and culture. In this sense, this study seeks to answer the question: how is Black literature represented in the collection of the Dr. Possidônio da Silva Bem Municipal Public Library in Juazeiro do Norte (CE)? In this context, the study aims to investigate the presence or absence of Black literature in the institution's collection, focusing on the identification of Black authors and the retrieval of subjects related to ethnic-racial relations within the library system's search descriptors. The methodology employed a mixed-methods approach (qualitative and quantitative), using exploratory, descriptive, bibliographic, and documentary methods to meet the specific research objectives. The results highlight the insufficiency of Black authors and the lack of works of Black literature in the collection, which hinders the democratization of access to culture and information. Therefore, it is hoped that this research will contribute to the construction of more diverse and representative collections in public libraries, promoting racial equality and access to Afro-Brazilian culture. Furthermore, it is hoped that this study will serve as a basis for the creation of public policies that encourage the production and dissemination of Brazilian Black literature.

Author Biographies

  • Marilucia Antonia de Sousa, Universidade Federal do Cariri, Centro Cultural Banco do Nordeste - CCBNB Cariri

    Marilucia Antonia de Sousa é bibliotecária, com mestrado em biblioteconomia e graduação pela Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), com atuação na área de Ciência da Informação, especialmente em Arquivologia, memória social e estudos étnico-raciais. Desenvolve pesquisas sobre preservação da memória de mulheres negras do Cariri cearense.

  • Leyde Klebia Rodrigues da Silva, Federal University of Bahia, Universidade Federal do Cariri

    Adjunct Professor at the Department of Documentation and Information, Institute of Information Science, Federal University of Bahia (DDI/ICI/UFBA), Brazil. Collaborating Professor in the Graduate Program in Library and Information Science (PPGB) at the Federal University of Cariri (UFCA), Brazil. Holds a Ph.D. in Information Science from the Graduate Program in Information Science jointly offered by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology (IBICT). Holds a Master’s degree in Information Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Library and Information Science from the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB).

    Research interests include: Foundations and Epistemologies of Information Science and Library and Information Science; Epistemicide and Memoricide in Information Science and related fields; Postcoloniality, Decoloniality, Anticoloniality, and Countercoloniality in Information Science and related disciplines; Black Women in Information Science and related fields; Memory and Society; Sociology of Information; Ethnic-Racial and Gender Studies in informational contexts; Knowledge Production; Dissemination, Use, and Appropriation of Information; and Web Information Sources.

    She is a member of the Center for Studies and Research on Information, Education, and Ethnic-Racial Relations (NEPIERE); the Research Group Integrating Competencies, Building Knowledge, Training Scientists (GEINCOS); the Ecce Liber Research Group: Language, Philosophy, and Knowledge; and the Research and Study Group on Information Mediation and Communication (GEPEMCI).

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Published

2026-11-13

Conference Proceedings Volume

2026: XXVI ENCONTRO NACIONAL DE PESQUISA E PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO EM CIÊNCIA DA INFORMAÇÃO

Section

GT 12 – Informação, Estudos Étnico-Raciais, Gênero e Diversidades

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