A local organization will continue to teach the community about black history long after February is over.

The Canvas Institute of Arts, Culture and Civic Engagement unveiled their new library on Saturday.

More than 700 books covering a wide scope of black history topics were donated by the family of William Givens Junior.

The celebration of the library included performances and a live painting by a local artist.

Organizers say it is important for children in the community to have access to information about African history and heritage.

"Know the stories, know the challenges, know how far blacks in America have come, so that they hopefully can value the experiences that their ancestors have experienced here and hopefully that can enrich their lives in a way that they move forward," said Bobby Digi - founder of the Canvas Institute.

St John's University has partnered with The Canvas Institute to have all the books digitize and accessible through their website.