OLA to Form Committee for Tribal Libraries, Archives, and American Indian Collections

As a part of the Oklahoma Library Associations theme for 2007-2008, Keys to the Future, OLA has established an Ad Hoc Committee for Tribal Libraries or Archives and American Indian Collections. This committee will seek to involve the people working in the Tribal Libraries or Archives as well as those working with America Indian collections in non-tribal libraries or those interested in American Indian services and programs.

The purpose for this committee is three-fold.

• First, it is to provide a place for active participation in OLA on the part of those people working in these special collections. Those working in the Tribal Libraries and those interested in their issues have had a discussion group but they were not a part of the Program Committee so were limited in their participation in planning process for OLA. Forming a committee allows the committee co-chairs to be a part of the OLA leadership and members of the Program Committee. This will allow for more input into future workshops and conference programs and give them a stronger voice in OLA.
• The second purpose of the committee is to involve those working in these special libraries. To date there have been very few members from these special libraries. Many of the Tribal Nations have established or are establishing libraries, archive collections, and college libraries, so it is important to include them in the library organization.
• The third purpose is to promote relationships. Many of us who work in public, school, and college or university libraries have not built a relationship with our colleagues who work in the Tribal Libraries or Archives. This must be done. We have much to offer each other which will make all of our libraries stronger and better.

The mission of OLA is to support libraries, librarians and library services and this includes all libraries. Therefore the Committee for Tribal Libraries, Archives, and American Indian Collections is an essential Key to the Future, enabling the Oklahoma Library Association to fulfill its mission.

Anyone interested in being a member of this new committee, please contact Jan Bryant at ljanbryant@eok.lib.ok.us or Kay Boies at kboies@sbcglobal.net.