The Librarian Whose Light on Diversity and Inclusion Still Shines

Joyce Sumbi’s father was a farmer who moved the family from the Midwest to Merced, California’s rural farming region on the northern coast, to live off the land.

Despite her humble beginnings, Sumbi was born with a destiny that would create a legacy to inspire others to dream more, learn more and become more.

Sumbi began her career as an elementary school teacher in San Diego. She resigned after one year, moved to Los Angeles, and received a master’s degree in library science. Armed with an advanced degree, she joined the Los Angeles County Library system (LACL). Sumbi would later become the first African American Administrator in the library system.

In 1971, there were 242 librarians of which thirteen were black and four were Latino. So Sumbi joined five Black colleagues in charging the county library system with discrimination. Sumbi built on her inevitable fate and became a founding member of the California Librarians Black Caucus in 1972.

As destiny would have it, Sumbi’s influence continued to grow. She was involved in leading the “Our Authors Study Club,” a group dedicated to promoting black history and culture.

“She made an indelible impression on me and subsequently became a wonderful mentor. Not only did I become a librarian with LACL, but I also became the librarian in charge of the Black Resource Center at A.C. Bilbrew Library and was a recipient of the Joyce Sumbi Emerging Leaders Award in 2014," said Rose Mitchell, the Black Resource Center Librarian at the A.C. Bilbrew Library in the LACL system.

Sumbi has received many distinguished awards throughout her career. She won the Phyllis Wheatley Award from International Black Writers and Artists. She also received recognition from the American Library Association, the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, the Mayor’s office, and others.

Sumbi died in 2010 at the age of 75 in her Los Angeles home. Her light shines on through the Joyce Madkins Sumbi Emerging Leaders Award presented by the California Librarians Black Caucus at the Leimert Park Village Book Fair, an event she helped to create.

"The Los Angeles Public Library congratulates the Leimert Park Book Fair on its 14th year," said City Librarian John F. Szabo. "The work of Joyce Sumbi served as a standard for not only librarians in Los Angeles but throughout our entire profession. We are honored and inspired to carry the torch of her example by providing exemplary library services to meet the needs of Los Angeles' diverse communities," he added.

Photos courtesy of Joyce Sumbi Family.