By: Jill Grunenwald, Marketing & Communications Specialist

Every February, librarians, educators, and readers carve out time in their reading schedule or on the bookshelves to celebrate and amplify Black voices for Black History Month. The truth is, 28 days isn’t enough. We should be reading, promoting, and supporting these books and authors every single day. And while much of the focus of Black History Month is centered on the history of African Americans, it is equally important that we recognize and reckon with what it currently means to be Black in America while also highlighting the joy that can be found in books written by Black authors.

Last summer, the circulation of digital titles by Black authors surged. While much of this increase was due to the state of the world and protests for social injustice, books by Black authors that were unrelated to antiracism also saw a rise in circulation.

Below are curated shopping lists ideal for librarians looking to expand their collection of ebooks and audiobooks by Black authors. Be sure to also visit our Resource Center to find a free Black History Month social media graphic you can use to encourage the users in your community to celebrate and read Black authors all year long.

Collections curated by OverDrive

African American Romance
Black LGBTQ+ Authors and Characters
Social Justice & Activism
Conversations on Race, Racism, & Resistance
Social Justice & Activism (Spanish/Bilingual)
Guides to Anti-Racism
Black Lives Matter J/YA
Social Justice J/YA

Anti-Racism & Social Justice Collections

1,000 Black Girl Books via Marley Dias & the Grassroots Community Foundation
YA Books that spotlight #BlackJoy via SLJ
Anti-Racist Graphic Novel Reading List via Publishers Weekly
Children’s and Young Adult Anti-Racism Titles via Publishers Weekly
Black Liberation Reading List via NYPL Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Anti-Racist Fiction Reading List via Publishers Weekly
Books That Showcase Black Talent via BookPage

Pop Culture Lists

Books on Black Lives Matter and Civil Rights via Popsugar
Books about Race on College Campuses via Popsugar
Books to Read if You Want to Get Into Black SFF via Buzzfeed
Books to Support Black Voices in Australia via Buzzfeed
Books by Black Authors Everyone Should Read via HuffPost