Loriene Roy
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Loriene Roy is an American scholar of Indigenous librarianship, professor and
librarian A librarian is a person who works professionally in a library providing access to information, and sometimes social or technical programming, or instruction on information literacy to users. The role of the librarian has changed much over time, ...
from
Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
. She was the first Native American president of 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, with 49,727 members a ...
when she was inaugurated in 2007.


Biography


Background and education

Loriene Roy was born and raised in rural towns bordering the Fond du Lac Reservation in northern Minnesota. She is
Anishinabe The Anishinaabeg (adjectival: Anishinaabe) are a group of culturally related Indigenous peoples present in the Great Lakes region of Canada and the United States. They include the Ojibwe (including Saulteaux and Oji-Cree), Odawa, Potawatomi ...
, a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, and is enrolled on the
White Earth Reservation The White Earth Indian Reservation ( oj, Gaa-waabaabiganikaag, "Where there is an abundance of white clay") is the home to the White Earth Band, located in northwestern Minnesota. It is the largest Indian reservation in the state by land area. ...
.LibGig
, Amelia Abreu, interviewer. 19 March 2010.
Roy received a
Master’s degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.
in
Library Science Library science (often termed library studies, bibliothecography, and library economy) is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and ...
from the
University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a public land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it was the first university in the Arizona Territory. T ...
and received her
Doctorate degree A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''l ...
from the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the Univ ...
."Loriene Roy,"
Library of Congress. 19 March 2010.


Career

Roy joined the faculty at the
University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1883 and is the oldest institution in the University of Texas System. With 40,916 undergraduate students, 11,075 ...
in 1987, where she teaches in the
School of Information This list of information schools, sometimes abbreviated to iSchools, includes members of the iSchools organization. iSchools organization The iSchools organization reflects a consortium of over 100 information schools across the globe. iSchools pro ...
and the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies. Roy focuses her work on developing and promoting library services and cultural heritage initiatives with and for Indigenous populations, public libraries, and measurement and evaluation of library services. She founded and directs a national reading club for Native children called “If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything,” and a scholarship program for Indigenous students called “Honoring Generations” that is funded by the
Institute of Museum and Library Services The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is an independent agency of the United States federal government established in 1996. It is the main source of federal support for libraries and museums within the United States, having the mis ...
. Roy says that “there are barriers to library use. One is creating the family tradition of supporting libraries and reading. Another is that libraries need to adapt flexible policies-including open hours, circulation length of loan. Tribal libraries can be exciting plans that support cultural expression and should be the place where Native language learning takes place, where records are housed and organized, where children and family members gather.”


American Library Association

Roy began as President-Elect of 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, with 49,727 members a ...
(ALA) on June 28, 2006, and was inaugurated as the 2007–2008 President of ALA at the 2007 ALA Annual Conference,Loriene Roy web page
University of Texas. 19 March 2010.
becoming the first Native American President of the ALA. Roy outlined three main platform issues when she became President: supporting literacy, promoting LIS education through practice, and creating programs for
workplace wellness Workplace wellness, also known as corporate wellbeing outside the United States, is a broad term used to describe activities, programs, and/or organizational policies designed to support healthy behavior in the workplace. This often involves healt ...
. To help fulfill these goals, she formed working circles in place of traditional task forces, bringing a greater element of inclusivity and community to the work of the presidency. From the presidency Roy says she learned "to face your fears or deficiencies...that many people have ideas for you but only a few are willing to step up and really help. Keep those people happy!" Previously, Roy was elected ALA Councilor-At-Large for two terms, 1997–2000 and 2004–2006, and served on a number of ALA Council Committees including the Committee on Education, Committee on Committees, Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship, and Nominating Committee. Roy was also the 1997-1998 President of the
American Indian Library Association American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...
, and she is a member of the Corazon de Tejas chapter of REFORMA and Associate Member of Te Ropu Whakahau, Maori in Libraries and Information Management. In 2013 Roy was honored as the
Jean E. Coleman Library Outreach Lecture The Jean E. Coleman Library Outreach Lecture presented at the annual conference of the American Library Association (ALA) is tribute to the work of Jean E. Coleman to ensure that all citizens, particularly Native Americans and adult learners, hav ...
speaker. Her lecture, “What's Love Got to Do With It?: The Place of Love and Forgiveness in Library and Information Studies” was based on her work with the
Fetzer Institute The Fetzer Institute, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was founded by broadcast pioneer and Detroit Tigers baseball team owner John E. Fetzer (1901–1991). He formed the institute to support work “designed to discover and enhance the integral re ...
.


Indigenous Librarianship

Roy is an advocate for Indigenous librarianship. The United Nations celebrated the
International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII or PFII) is the UN's central coordinating body for matters relating to the concerns and collective rights, rights of the world's indigenous peoples. There are more than 370 milli ...
, 1995-2005. The first international forum of information professionals of Indigenous heritage was held in Auckland, New Zealand/Aotearoa, 1–4 November 1999: "affirming the knowledge and values of Indigenous peoples in the age of information" (Toi te kupu, toi te mana, toi te whenua). Roy documented this forum, “The International Indigenous Librarians’ Forum: A Professional Life-Affirming Event” She identified the impact of IT on Indigenous people at the beginning of the digital era. Roy was Convener on Indigenous Matters for the
International Federation of Library Associations The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of people who rely on libraries and information professionals. An independent, non-governmental, not-for-pro ...
in 2008-2009.Loriene Roy, “Indigenous Matters in Library and Information Science: An Evolving Ecology,” ''Focus in International Library and Information Work'' 40 (2) (July 2009): 8-12. She edited the issue, "Indigenous Library Services," for the journal, ''World Libraries.'' Roy has characterized her work with Indigenous information services as an "evolving ecology –a system of balances and negotiation." Roy has developed case studies on public library service to Indigenous people. Roy is an advocate of the advancement of library and information services to Indigenous people and her lecture,“As Long as the Rivers Flow: Continuing Efforts to Support and Advance Services with and for Indigenous Peoples,” was presented at the International Indigenous Librarians’ Forum in Auckland, Aotearoa/New Zealand in 2019. The International Federation of Library Associations volume ''Indigenous Notions of Ownership and Libraries, Archives and Museums.'' for which Roy was editor, included her essay, "Who is Indigenous?"


Awards

Roy has received many professional awards, including the 2006 ALA Equality Award; 2007 ''Library Journal'' "Mover & Shaker"; Outstanding 2002 Alumna from the University of Arizona’s School of Information Resources and Library Services; the Joe and Bettie Branson Ward Excellence Award for Research, Teaching, or Demonstration Activities that Contribute to Changes of Positive Value to Society; two Texas Exes Teaching Awards; and two James W. Vick Texas Excellence Awards for Academic Advisors. In 2015 the
American Indian Library Association American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...
honored Roy with the Distinguished Service Award. Roy was selected as a member of the Inaugural Cohort of The University of Texas at Austin, Provost’s Distinguished Service Academy, 2020-2025.Inaugural Cohort Announced for Provost’s Distinguished Service Academy.
The University of Texas at Austin.February 2020.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roy, Loriene American women librarians Presidents of the American Library Association Living people Year of birth missing (living people) University of Arizona alumni University of Illinois School of Information Sciences alumni University of Texas at Austin faculty American women academics American librarians of Native descent 20th-century Native American women 20th-century Native Americans 21st-century Native American women 21st-century Native Americans Native American librarianship