Posted on: June 12, 2018[ARCHIVED] Jordan-Newby Anchor Branch Library at Broad Creek Grand Opening
Norfolk Public Library (NPL) invites everyone to the grand opening of the Jordan-Newby Anchor Branch Library at Broad Creek on Thursday, June 14 at 10:15am.
NORFOLK, VA – Norfolk Public Library (NPL) invites everyone to the grand opening of the Jordan-Newby Anchor Branch Library at Broad Creek on Thursday, June 14 at 10:15am.
The new Jordan-Newby Anchor Branch Library at Broad Creek offers a children’s patio, children’s art room, reading terrace, meeting rooms, study rooms, public computers and more, located adjacent to the recently opened Richard Bowling Elementary School. The Broad Creek anchor branch also features a Playscape and a KidZone. The Playscape is a stimulating environment for climbing, sliding, crawling and building for infants and toddlers, ages 0 to two. The KidZone features an interactive space that encourages playful discovery, early literacy development and enhanced learning for children and parents.
Prior to the grand opening celebration, Councilwoman Mamie Johnson will unveil “Path to Success,” a colorful brick wall gallery, at 10am. 40 Richard Bowling Elementary school students in grades kindergarten to 5th grade designed and painted bricks for the gallery with a nature theme.
"I am so proud of our City to invest in and promote lifelong learning through this beautiful and dynamic building for our residents. We are also excited to honor the heritage and legacy of the Jordan and Newby families by incorporating their names into the new facility" said Sonal Rastogi, Director of Libraries, NPL.
The Broad Creek Anchor Branch is the NPL system’s second anchor branch location. Sometime in the near future the Jordan-Newby Library will be closing. The new anchor building is less than a mile away from the Jordan-Newby Library.
The branch is named after Judge Joseph A. Jordan and Dr. Thomas Newby. Judge Joseph A. Jordan was a Norfolk Attorney and the first African American to be elected to Norfolk’s City Council in the 20th century. He was elected vice-mayor in 1972, and was appointed U.S. District Court Judge in 1977. Jordan was responsible for bringing a number of Civil Rights suits to court, including one on behalf of Mrs. Evelyn Butts of Norfolk, which would end the poll tax as a prerequisite for voting in state and local elections in Virginia in 1966.
Dr. Thomas Newby was a Norfolk educator and the first graduate of Booker T. Washington High School to return to the school to serve as its principal. His brother, Dr. James Newby, Jr., was Chief of Medicine at Norfolk Community Hospital and the first African American to serve on the Norfolk Planning Commission. Their father, James E. Newby, Sr., was a Norfolk educator and principal at Ruffner and Rosemont Junior High Schools.