 Dr. Loriene Roy
When Loriene Roy was growing up, surrounded by seven brothers and sisters, she would read "just about anything" she could get her hands on. Her parents, both members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, were her first reading teachers. Although neither of them had a high school diploma, they encouraged a love for reading in their eldest daughter.
Now, Roy is the first American Indian president of the American Library Association (ALA), the world’s oldest and largest library organization (with 64,000 members). She is also a professor of library information at the University of Texas at Austin where she founded and directs “If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything,” a national reading club for Native children; and “Honoring Generations,” a graduate scholarship program for Native students. Roy lives in Austin with her teenage son, Owen, and an Australian Shepherd named Sheila.
RIF: Do you have a tribal name?
LR: I don’t, although I know some Native people whose names reflect their heritage, like Victor Brave Thunder or Martha Many Grey Horse. However, I am named after a character in the book, From Here to Eternity by James Jones. Donna Reed played the character in the film version.
RIF: Speaking of books, what was your favorite book as a child?
LR: I don't recall having a favorite book until I was 13 or 14 years old when I read the English memoir, The Edge of Day by Laurie Lee. I still read that book almost every spring.
RIF: What inspired you to become a librarian?
LR: I was working as an X-ray technician at a community hospital in Arizona when I became interested in medical libraries as a way to provide patients with needed information. So, I decided to attend the library school at the University of Arizona. I have been in the field of library information ever since!
RIF: During National Library Week (Apr 15–18, 2008), ALA will invite the world to visit an online “Gathering of Readers.” What are some of the fun things you have planned for the gathering?
LR: The website will feature tribal schools that serve indigenous children. So far, we have schools from countries around the world, including Guatemala, Zambia, New Zealand, and the U.S. The schools will share information on how they celebrate their students’ culture and promote reading. This will be a great resource for librarians, educators, and parents who want to teach children about indigenous cultures around the world.
RIF: As president of the oldest and largest library association in the world, what would you like your legacy to be?
LR: Hopefully, I will have met the day-to-day responsibilities of the office! I also hope to demonstrate some initiatives that may be carried on into the future. One such initiative is the “Circle of Literacy,” which focuses on providing library services for indigenous children, immigrants, and those who are incarcerated. |
