Tulsa City-County Library wins 2019 ALA/Information Today Library of the Future Award

CHICAGO — The Tulsa City-County Library in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been selected to receive the 2019 Library of the Future Award, sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and Information Today Inc. publishing company. The Library was selected for implementing the community-driven idea of a creator-focused digital training and work space, the Digital Literacy Lab.  Working with community members, the Library crafted a vision of a 21st Century library which was used to guide the 2016, $55-million renovation of the downtown Tulsa, Central Library--ultimately creating the Digital Literacy Lab, a space where individuals from the community come together to experiment with new and emerging technologies and learn digital literacy skills.

Through robust partnerships with technology organizations, the Digital Literacy Lab supports the needs of users with a casual interest in technology, professional artists, local non-profits, family historians, local organizations and educators.  Through outreach programs, technology meetups, classes at local universities and in-house workshops for students, genealogists, Tulsa Public School Librarians and other groups, Digital Literacy Lab staff assist users to pursue and attain their digital literacy goals and ensure the Library is a vital civic resource and economic driver in the Tulsa community.

Information Today Inc. publishing company is a leader in providing libraries with resources to meet knowledge management needs. This award, designed to recognize innovative planning, applications, or development of focused patron support relating to information technology in libraries, is given to an individual library, consortium, group, or support organization.

The 2019 ALA/Information Today Library of the Future Award jury members include Rene Erlandson, Omaha, Nebraska, chair; Jodie Gambill, Mount Julliet, Tennessee; Rodney Lippard, University of South Carolina Aiken; Erica McCormick, Texas State Library & Archives Commission; Elijah Scott UWF/Florida Academic Library Services Cooperative.

The ALA/Information Today Library of the Future Award will be presented at the ALA President’s program, Sunday, June 23, 2019 during the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans.

More information on the ALA/Information Today Library of the Future Award and how to submit a nomination is available on the ALA website (www.ala.org).