Andrew P. Jackson

Andrew Jackson has always appreciated the importance of the written word. Without it, civilization would still be in the Stone Age. An activist librarian, Mr. Jackson has served as Executive Director of Queens Library’s Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center in New York since 1980. There, he provides extensive outreach to schools, libraries, community organizations, cultural institutions, correctional facilities and colleges. In addition, Mr. Jackson has served as a library consultant/advisor to public libraries in Florida, New York and North Carolina, advocating and sharing his knowledge in order to preserve the importance of the written language.

Past-President of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Mr. Jackson has served on the BCALA Executive Board since 1996. He has also served as co-chair of ALA’s Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunrise Celebration since 2001, and is a member of the ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Locally, Mr. Jackson serves as chair of the Queens Borough President’s African American Heritage Planning Committee, York College President’s Advisory Council, and is a founding board member of the Corona-East Elmhurst Historic Preservation Society.

Mr. Jackson co-edited the award-winning book, The 21st Century Black Librarian in America: Issues and Challenges (2012) and authored Queens Notes: Facts About the Forgotten Borough of Queens, New York (2010), along with many published essays.

Mr. Jackson earned his Master of Library Science at Queens College-Graduate School of Library and Information Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from York College. He was given five African names in recognition of his commitment to teaching Black history and designing and presenting cultural programs for the community-at-large.

Mr. Jackson served in the United States Air Force from 1964-1968. He served with the 4th Air Commando Squadron at Nha Trang Air Base, Vietnam. For his valiant service to his country overseas, he was selected as First Term Airman of the Year, received the Bronze Star Medal and Distinguished Unit Citation. Mr. Jackson was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant.