From Books to Bars with Frzy!
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Innovation Synopsis
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh teamed with Emmy award-winning rapper Frzy to bring attention to children’s books that speak out against hate and judgement. From Books to Bars with Frzy! dropped new video content for thirty-one days using the connection between children’s literature and rap to celebrate diversity and inclusion. The project aimed to shed light on stories that make a difference and center around Black, Brown and LGBTQIA+ authors, illustrators, and their supporters whose voices are disproportionately silenced during attacks on inclusive literature and learning. The first video featuring the book, What If… by Samantha Berger debuted on Monday, May 1, 2023.
Challenge/Opportunity
Libraries are historically known as the central place for a community to gain access to information and share knowledge. This is fundamental to our profession. If music is a universal language, then books are the accents. Now more than ever, it is important that we amplify all voices, embrace books about people of all backgrounds and identities, seeking and expressing ideas, and discovering stories that resonate with the diverse communities we serve.
Children’s books tend to have a natural rhyming pattern. There is a certain joy that comes from playing with language and being able to celebrate both in the written and musical form. From Books to Bars was created at a time when groups across the country were vocal in trying to censor books in our schools and libraries. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's collaboration with Frzy amplified both the written and spoken word, shining a light on the amazing and beautiful children’s books that people are otherwise trying to keep in the dark.
Key Elements of Innovation
The project name connects to the unit of measurement in hip-hop, known as a “BAR.” A rapper’s skill level, experience, and ability to tell a story is judged by their lyrical prowess… or, in other words, “BARS.” The children’s books chosen for the project are written in a rhyming pattern, with each sentence considered a “BAR.” From Books to Bars with Frzy featured the rapper reading a passage aloud from children’s books that embrace themes of diversity, inclusion and identity and deconstructing the unique lyrical wordplay and rhyming style of each author, through his musical lens and delivery.
To reach a broader audience new content dropped daily—31 videos in total (one for each day in May 2023)—on the rapper’s Instagram (@frzy) and TikTok (@therapperfrzy). Each day, as the videos were released, the Library added to Frzy’s Staff Picks at carnegielibrary.org, as well as curated a playlist for all 31 videos on the Library's YouTube channel.
Achieved Outcomes
Thirty-one videos in 31 days shined the light on children's books, with an emphasis on highlighting Black, Brown and LGBTQIA+ authors. Frzy worked closely with the Library’s Coordinator of Children’s Collections, narrowing down titles and looking for lines that resonated—four lines that were simple yet profound; something that would bring people together and make them think. When children see themselves represented in books they will read more and become lifelong learners.
The Library’s goal was to engage with the content and know that the Library is a place where everyone belongs. During its debut, the videos received 27,771 plays on Instagram and 14,904 plays on TikTok, reaching more than 26,000 accounts. A number of authors, illustrators and publishers reposted the content and reached out to share their appreciation for using our platform to bring attention to inclusion and the importance of diverse books.
