The Oklahoma Library Association (OLA) is a non-profit organization that promotes libraries and library services and provides professional development for library personnel in the state of Oklahoma. OLA is a chapter of both the

American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world. History 19th century ...

and the

Mountain Plains Library Association The Mountain Plains Library Association (MPLA) is a non-profit organization based in the western United States that promotes the development of librarians and libraries by providing educational and networking opportunities to members. Modeled ...

. OLA hosts workshops throughout the year and holds an Annual Conference. OLA is the official sponsor of the

Sequoyah Book Award The Sequoyah Book Award is a set of three annual awards for books selected by vote of Oklahoma students in elementary, middle, and high schools. The award program is named after Sequoyah (–1843), the Cherokee man who developed the Cherokee sylla ...

, the third oldest U.S. state children's choice award. "Sequoyah Book Awards"
(homepage). Oklahoma Library Association (OLA). Retrieved 2014-05-05.

History

OLA was formed on May 16, 1907 by a small group of librarians from the

University of Oklahoma The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Public university, public research university in Norman, Oklahoma, United States. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two territories became the ...

and nearby normal schools as well as public libraries. The meeting was hosted by the now-defunct Carnegie Library in downtown Oklahoma City. These librarians were interested in forming a statewide library association to ensure the "statewide extension of tax-supported library service" and "to explore a more economical way of transporting...books." OLA has sponsored the Read Y'all celebrity poster literacy campaign and the Mildred Laughlin Festival of Books. OLA used to publish a newsletter called Oklahoma Librarian, which ceased in 2018. https://www.oklibs.org/page/Oklahoma_Librarian (( , access-date=July 9, 2020 ))

Notable Members

Ruth Brown Ruth Alston Brown (; January 12, 1928 – November 17, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter and actress, sometimes referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of R&B". She was noted for bringing a popular music, pop music ...

* Ruby Canton, daughter of lawman and former outlaw Frank M. Canton * Milton J. Ferguson *

Edmon Low Edmon Low (January 4, 1902 – December 2, 1983) was the head librarian of the Oklahoma State University Library from 1940–1967. His service in this position is the longest to date. During his time at Oklahoma State, Low was strongly involved w ...

Allie Beth Martin Allie Beth Martin (née Dent; June 28, 1914 – April 11, 1976) was an American librarian, educator, politician, and author. In 1990, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the field of library science by ''American Libraries''.W ...

* Lotsee Patterson * Pat Woodrum

External links

Oklahoma Library Association

Read Y'all

References

{{Authority control Library-related professional associations Library-related organizations Library associations in the United States Professional associations based in the United States Organizations established in 1907 Organizations based in Oklahoma