Allie Beth Martin
Encyclopedia
Allie Beth Martin (June 28, 1914 – April 11, 1976) was an American
librarian
, educator, politician
, and author
. In 1990, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the field of Library science
by Leonard Kniffel. She was the first director of the Tulsa City-County Library
, from 1963 until her death, and was known for her ground-breaking library improvement programs.
, on 28 June 1914 to Carleton Gayle Dent and Ethel (McCaleb) Dent. After graduating from high school in 1932, she went on to earn several degrees. She earned a B.A.
in foreign languages & English from Arkansas College in 1935 and a B.S.
in Library Science
in 1939 from Peabody College
. She later earned an M.S. in Library Science in 1949 from Columbia University
.
She married Ralph F. Martin, a journalist, on 6 October 1937.
She started working at the Tulsa Library in 1949 and became the director of the Tulsa City-County Library in 1963. Later she elected president of committee in 1945 and president of the ALA in 1975. She died in Tulsa on April 11, 1976.
After doing the preliminary study, Martin wrote the book A Strategy for Public Library Change, which sparked a movement of library improvement programs all across the country.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
, educator, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. In 1990, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the field of Library science
Library science
Library science is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the...
by Leonard Kniffel. She was the first director of the Tulsa City-County Library
Tulsa City-County Library
The Tulsa City-County Library is the major public library system in Tulsa County, Oklahoma.-Overview:The library system serves those who live, work, go to school in, own land in, or pay property taxes on land in Tulsa County. There are 25 branches in the system: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,...
, from 1963 until her death, and was known for her ground-breaking library improvement programs.
Early life
Martin was born in Annieville, ArkansasArkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, on 28 June 1914 to Carleton Gayle Dent and Ethel (McCaleb) Dent. After graduating from high school in 1932, she went on to earn several degrees. She earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in foreign languages & English from Arkansas College in 1935 and a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Library Science
Library science
Library science is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the...
in 1939 from Peabody College
Peabody College
Peabody College of Education and Human Development was founded in 1875 when the University of Nashville, located in Nashville, Tennessee, split into two separate educational institutions...
. She later earned an M.S. in Library Science in 1949 from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
She married Ralph F. Martin, a journalist, on 6 October 1937.
Career
Martin began working in a junior college in Little Rock, AK. She joined the Arkansas Library Commission as an assistant to the executive secretary.She started working at the Tulsa Library in 1949 and became the director of the Tulsa City-County Library in 1963. Later she elected president of committee in 1945 and president of the ALA in 1975. She died in Tulsa on April 11, 1976.
Programs
Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Council on Library Resources in 1972, Allie Beth Martin prepared a report on whether the library meets the needs of its patrons; the report was published by the Public Library Association (PLA) and the American Library Association (ALA). The plan listed steps that libraries should take in order to transition into the 21st Century and keep up with library’s changing roles in society.After doing the preliminary study, Martin wrote the book A Strategy for Public Library Change, which sparked a movement of library improvement programs all across the country.
Legacy and honors
- She was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities Degree from University of Tulsa.
- The Tulsa Regional Library was named after her as well a lecture series and a national library award.
- The Allie Beth Martin Award has been presented annually since 1979 by the Public Library Association.