Abbreviation OLA Type Non-profit | Formation 1907 Executive Director Kay Boies | |
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Purpose "To strengthen the quality of libraries, library services and librarianship in Oklahoma." Headquarters Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | ||
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 and the Mountain Plains Library Association. OLA hosts workshops throughout the year and holds an Annual Conference. OLA is the official sponsor of the Sequoyah Book Award, the Read Y'all celebrity poster literacy campaign, and the Mildred Laughlin Festival of Books.
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History
OLA was formed on May 16, 1907 by a small group of librarians from the University of Oklahoma 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."