the American Indian Festival of Words Writers Award, the American Indian Circle of Honor Award, and the Sankofa Freedom Award. Sankofa, derived from the Akan language spoken in southern Ghana, literally translates as We must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why and how we came to be who we are today.
The Tulsa City-County Library strives to promote lifelong learning, literacy in all forms and critical thinking skills. During this past Banned Books Week (September 22—28, 2019), the library celebrated books, reading, freedom of information, and providing access to all. The library’s message to the public is Censorship Leaves Us in the Dark. Keep the Lights On!
It’s no surprise that Tulsa City-County (Okla.) Library was selected to receive the 2019 Library of the Future Award, sponsored by ALA and Information Today. One reason why the library system was selected was due to its solid track record of implementing its creator-focused digital training, and its complementary workspace called the Digital Literacy Lab. This lab gives people the opportunity to experiment with the many facets of learning the new and emerging technologies related to digital literacy.
The library offers meeting spaces, and a multitude of programs ranging from art and crafts to storytelling sessions and book discussion groups for children, teens and adults. Distinguishing characteristics of this library system include resource centers that focus on the needs and historical interests of the community it serves: the African-American Resource Center in the Rudisill Regional Library; the American Indian Resource Center at the Zarrow Regional Library; the Genealogy Resource Center at the Hardesty Regional Library; and the Hispanic Resource Center at the Martin Regional Library.
The library’s many outstanding programs, ethnic research resources, and forward thinking services enrich life and learning for Oklahomans in the Twenty-first Century. The library also embodies the true meaning of the term Sankofa: We must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why and how we came to be who we are today.
Community services and hours vary at each branch.
For more information, go to the main website to access a specific location or email [email protected].
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American Libraries Magazine Future Award