Carlton native rises in world of libraries

Loriene Roy loved books and reading from a young age while growing up in Carlton County. Whenever she had enough allowance, she bought a book and started her own home library for a shelf her mother had set up.

Her younger sister Della can attest that Loriene was already practicing to be a librarian when she was in grade school. If Della wanted to read one of Loriene's books, she had to sign a card to check it out. Della lost her borrowing privileges when she tore a page corner instead of using a bookmark.

Born in Cloquet and raised in Carlton, Roy graduated from high school in 1972. She is Anishinaabe, or Ojibwe. She and her family are enrolled members of the White Earth nation.

Loriene Roy's life journey took some twists and turns and lots of adventures, but she was always focused on getting a higher education.

After high school, she attended the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota. With her interest in the arts, she studied textile design. After a year, she moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon, where she studied medical imaging at Oregon Institute of Technology. By 1977 she had earned an associate and bachelor's degree in medical radiologic technology, and worked at the local hospital.

From there, her journey took her to Yuma, Arizona, where she was a radiologic technologist in a hospital. After a while, she realized that she wanted to change careers.

At the suggestion of a friend - and maybe feeling the pull to return to the days of her home library - Loriene enrolled at the University of Arizona, where she earned a master's in library science. She considered combining careers and pursuing medical librarianship, but when she was offered a job at a Yuma public library, she took it.

After a while, Loriene applied for and was awarded a fellowship from the University of Illinois. She used the award to work toward a doctorate in library science, earning it in 1987.

She joined the University of Texas staff that same year to teach in the School of Information and to be affiliated with the Center for Women's and Gender Studies. Her focus was to develop library and cultural programs for indigenous users. In 1999, she also developed a national program for American Indians called "If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything."

While at Texas, Loriene stood out. Besides teaching, she was a featured keynote speaker at conferences and a guest on the "Today" show and frequently on National Public Radio.

She served on and chaired many national American Library Association committees and worked to open library policies to be more inclusive. She also initiated, directed, and obtained funding for Honoring Generations, a scholarship program for indigenous students.

In 2005, the prestigious Library Journal bestowed upon Loriene its Mover and Shaker award in recognition of the teaching awards she had earned.

In 2007, Loriene ran for and was elected as president of the ALA. She was the first Native American in the post. In her acceptance speech, Loriene said she would focus on "workplace wellness; supporting library and information science education through practice; and including all people in the circle of literacy." During her time as president, Loriene had the opportunity to travel to other countries and to inspire other indigenous peoples to develop educational and literacy programs.

In 2021, the Native Trailblazers Series book, "Native Women Changing Their Worlds" featured 12 women who overcame incredible hardships and achieved great distinction. Loriene is one of them, and her photo is on the front cover.

While Loriene Roy's list of educational achievements, leadership awards, and publications is impressive, she has never forgotten what's most important to her. A few months ago, she attended her son's wedding in New York. She is, and has always been, so proud of him. Even with her busy schedule, she always finds time to make it back to Carlton to visit her mom, siblings and friends. When she lived in Yuma, she wrote a letter to her high school Spanish teacher. She included a hand-drawn map to her home, so if her teacher ever got to Yuma, she could find her way there.

Loriene Roy has certainly found her way. Her own map is a journey of hard work, the drive for more education, the desire to pass along to others what she has found joyful and important to her.