Mattie Herd Roland

Mattie Herd Roland was Alabama's first African-American librarian. Herd was selected and trained to head the first library for African-American use in Alabama, the Booker T. Washington branch of the Birmingham Public Library, which opened in 1918.

Early life and education

Mattie Herd was the daughter of a railroad switchman in Birmingham, Alabama. She worked after school at the central library to gain library experience.

Library career

Herd was interviewed in July 1918 to confirm her readiness to serve as a librarian. The branch opened in October 1918, though a planned opening ceremony was canceled due to the 1918 influenza pandemic.

Herd headed the library branch for four months before the board decided that a man would be a better choice to encourage use of the library; the man they eventually found to replace Herd was also poorly supported by the board's actions, and lasted only six months in the position. Librarian Annie Greene King described the opening of the Booker T. Washington branch as an important moment in the black public library movement.