Pat Woodrum Explained

Pat Woodrum
Known For:Former Executive Director of the Tulsa City-County Library System, executive director of the Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden now known as http://www.tulsabotanic.org/ The Tulsa Botanic Garden in Tulsa
Birth Name:Patricia Ann Hoffman
Birth Date:October 11th, 1941
Birth Place:Hutchinson, Kansas
Occupation:Librarian
Spouse:Clayton Woodrum
Children:Clayton E Woodrum II
Alma Mater:University of Oklahoma

Pat Woodrum is the former executive director of the Tulsa City-County Library System, a position she served in for 32 years. Since retiring from the library system in 2008, Woodrum has served as the executive director of the Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden in Tulsa. Among numerous awards, Woodrum was inducted in the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993.

Early life

Pat Woodrum was born in Hutchinson, Kansas in 1941, the eldest of four children. At the age of twelve, her family moved to Parsons, Kansas. She began working at the Parsons Public Library at age fifteen. Woodrum was married to husband Clayton Woodrum at age twenty, while she was still in college.[1] She earned her bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State Teacher’s College and later a master's degree in library science from the University of Oklahoma.[2]

Career

Three days after her graduation from OU, Woodrum began working at the Tulsa City-County Library system as a branch librarian. Woodrum served in nearly every position until she became the executive director of the Tulsa City-County Library System in 1976, where she served for 32 years. Woodrum remained active throughout her lengthy career with the library. She was a part of both OLA and ALA activities, serving as president of PLA (1993-1994).[3] Other involvements included:

Woodrum helped to establish Tulsa's Day Center for the Homeless as an alternative to the usage of public libraries for shelter.[4] Woodrum was appointed to the first board of the University Center of Tulsa as well as served on the site selection committee and buildings committee for what is now the OSU-Tulsa campus.

At the time of her retirement, Woodrum made a run for State Senate, though she did not win the election.[5]

After retiring from the library system, Woodrum went through the OSU Master Gardener Program and helped to create the Centennial Botanical Garden in Tulsa,[6] of which she now serves as executive director.[7]

Awards and achievements

Throughout her career, Woodrum has been honored with numerous awards including:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hoberock. Barbara. Pat Woodrum : The ultimate librarian. Tulsa World. 27 July 2015.
  2. Nykolaiszyn. Juliana. Oral history interview with Pat Woodrum. Inductees of the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame Oral History Project. July 22, 2008. 1 August 2022.
  3. Web site: Pat Woodrum. Oklahoma Library Legends. Oklahoma State University Library. 27 July 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131008165035/http://www.library.okstate.edu/dean/jpaust/legends/people/woodrum.htm. 8 October 2013.
  4. Book: Poor People and Library Services. 16 November 2015. McFarland. 9780786484492. 27 July 2015.
  5. Web site: State Senate, District 35 Pat Woodrum. News OK. 27 July 2015.
  6. Web site: Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden Project. INCOG. 27 July 2015.
  7. Web site: Kruse. Missy. Lunch With: Pat Woodrum. Tulsa People. 27 July 2015.
  8. Web site: Distinguished Service Award. Oklahoma Library Association. 27 July 2015.
  9. Web site: 2010 Pinnacle Awards Reception. City of Tulsa. 27 July 2015.

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