Oklahoma Department of Libraries


The Oklahoma Department of Libraries is a department of the state of Oklahoma and serves as the official state library for the state of Oklahoma. ODL provides information management to the state, assists local public libraries, coordinates statewide library and information technology projects. ODL also provides an extensive catalogue of books and other print materials for public use.

History

The ODL can trace its origins to the territorial days when on December 8, 1890 the First Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Oklahoma passed an act establishing a territorial library in Guthrie. George W. Steele, the governor of Oklahoma Territory also served as the first librarian. The library's name changed to Oklahoma Library in 1893, but the "Office of the State Librarian" was not officially established until statehood in 1907. The site of the library migrated to Oklahoma City in 1910 with the move of the state capital. The Oklahoma Library Code, passed in 1967, established the standards of governance of the library uses today.

Library Board

The Department of Libraries is governed by a seven-member Libraries Board, with each member appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate. There is one Board member for each of Oklahoma's five U.S. House districts, and two members are appointed "at large." The Board is responsible for establishing Departmental policy and for appointing higher level executive officers of the Department. The Director of the Department serves as an ex officio, non-voting, member of the Board and as the Board Secretary.
The current members of the Board are:
RepresentativeDistrict AppointmentTerm Expires
Annabeth RobinDistrict 17/1/2021
Mary ShannonDistrict 27/1/2021
Lee DenneyDistrict 37/1/2023
Phil Moss, ChairDistrict 47/1/2020
Robert DaceDistrict 57/1/2024
Cynthia Vogel, Vice ChairMember-at-Large7/1/2022
Jana BarkerMember-at-Large7/1/2019

Melody Kellogg serves as the current Director of ODL and secretary for the board.