Air Force Veteran, York Adjunct/Alum Publishes New Book

Queens’-own Andrew P. Jackson, fondly known as Sekou, has been inspired and mentored by library professionals and enjoys honoring them through his writing

^{Caption: Adjunct Professor Andrew P. Jackson (Sekou) adds the publication of Handbook of Black Librarianship to his list of achievements.}

Adjunct Professor Andrew P. Jackson (also known as Sekou Molefi Baako) has worn many hats throughout his diverse career, including military soldier, librarian, educator and award-winning author. He recently added another significant achievement to his list: the publication of Handbook of Black Librarianship: Third Edition, co-edited with Marva L. Deloach and Michele Fenton (Rowman & Littlefield).

Jackson, who grew up in East Elmhurst, Queens, is the oldest of triplets (two boys and a girl) born to Walter and Bessie L. Jackson, Sr. He has been inspired and mentored by numerous library professionals throughout his career in librarianship and enjoys paying homage to them through his writing.

This book covers key topics such as "Pioneers and Landmark Episodes," "Chronology of Events in Black Librarianship," "African-American Forerunners in Librarianship," Issues, Impact, and Values in Black Librarianship;" "Issues in Library and Information Science Education," "Issues and Advances in Medical Librarianship,"  "Academic Libraries," and more. Tributes in the book include pioneering Black librarian E.J. Josey (1924–2009), the first chair of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, who was instrumental in its founding in 1970.

In the preface, under the heading, "Black Librarian: A Rich Legacy and Self-Determination," Jackson writes, "One of the most important legacies of a civilization is the record it leaves behind, archiving its history for research and availability for future generations." He continues, "Embedded in that history is the representation of its culture and values, the people, and the places where history takes place."

Jackson's journey began with a deep curiosity, a love of the written word, and a profound desire to serve his community and country. A retired librarian and former executive director of the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center in Corona, Queens, Jackson's dedication to library service remains unwavering.

After military service, Jackson began his college education. While working full-time, he earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from York College and a master's in Library Science from the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies at Queens College. Both institutions consider him a distinguished alumnus.

A self-described cultural warrior, Jackson has served as an adjunct professor of Black Studies and Cultural Diversity at York College since 2001 and has taught Library Science at Queens College since 2007. He retired from Langston Hughes Library in 2016 after 36 years of service, but his dedication to library scholarship and service continues. In 2016, then-Queens Borough President Melinda Katz appointed Jackson to the Queens Library Board of Trustees, a role he still holds today.

The New York Black Librarians Caucus honored him by creating a $1,000 annual Library Support Staff Scholarship in his name. The Renaissance man is also the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force as a Staff Sergeant (E-5) and inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame in 2015 by the late Senator Jose Peralta.