Thomas Fountain Blue (March 6, 1866 – November 10, 1935) was a minister, educator, and civic leader who led the Colored Branches of the Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL) and was an early trainer of African-American librarians.

[4] In 1914 he was also made Librarian in charge of the newly opened Eastern Colored Branch of LFPL.

[3] Blue was dedicated to cultivating the library as a space for the use of the community; social clubs frequently made use of the Western and Eastern Colored Branches.

[7] The Louisville apprenticeship program ended in the early 1930s when professional library schools began to fill the gap of educating librarians.

[1]: 37  Blue died November 10, 1935; a resolution passed later that month by the Louisville Free Public Library Board of Trustees referred to him as "a trusted, loyal and highly competent administrator" and "a pioneer in this field of public service among Colored People".