More than 100 books donated to Inghram Branch Library
More than 100 books from the library of the late Margaret Hill were donated in February to the Dorothy Inghram Branch Library in San Bernardino to help continue Hill’s legacy of supporting literacy.
Hill, who was an educator for more than 50 years and was a First 5 San Bernardino commissioner before she died in 2021, supported efforts to improve literacy by making books available.
According to First 5 San Bernardino Executive Director Karen Scott who facilitated the donation, Hill was committed to improving literacy, especially for African American children.
“She loved to read and had amassed a wonderful collection of books by African American authors on topics relevant to people of color,” Scott said in a news release.
Previously, nearly 200 of Hill’s books had been provided to the San Bernardino County Library system in 2022.
Hill encouraged reading throughout her career, Scott said. “Her extensive home library is a valuable donation to the African American community, and I sincerely thank the leadership of the Dorothy Inghram Library for their partnership in this recent endeavor,” Scott said.
Dorothy Inghram, the first Black educator in San Bernardino County, and Hill were friends and colleagues. Inghram is remembered and honored by the library that bears her name on the west side of San Bernardino, a 1505 W. Highland Ave. The Inghram Library is one of the branches of the San Bernardino Public Library.
In addition to her career as an educator, Hill was also a longtime member of the San Bernardino City Unified School District school board.
First 5 San Bernardino’s purpose is to improve the lives of young children and their families. For the past 23 years, First 5 San Bernardino has been working through partnerships to promote, support and enhance the health and early development of children from before birth through age 5. It is funded through the 1998 voter-approved initiative California Children and Families Act.
For information, go to First5sanbernardino.org.