LABOR EDUCATION FOUNDATION - PUTTING THE MIND TO WORK.

History of the Labor Library Committee
In 1986 two members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) were expressing to each other how frustrated they had become when attempting to locate books addressing labor in public libraries and book stores.
The more they searched the more upset they became at the lack of books of any kind on labor, not to mention an almost total lack of pro labor books in the tri-state area of Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois.

In some cases libraries did not even have one book on the subject of labor.

The two decided the best solution was to find a way to get books about labor on the shelves of public libraries. To do this they enlisted help form other UMWA members. This group was the start of the Labor Library Committee (LLC).

The mission of the LLC was to place labor related material in public libraries. These materials were to include books, videos, and audiotapes. Since a new public library had just been built in Boonville, IN, the group decided that this would be a good place to start. An agreement between the Library and the LLC was entered into a short time later. The agreement was very simple. The LLC would provide materials to the library free of charge. The library would catalog, maintain, and keep the materials together as the labor collection. If the library ever needed the space or wanted the materials removed, the materials would go back to the LLC. The LLC also had the right to remove the materials at anytime.

The LLC drafted bylaws and contacted local unions for donations and for members who would represent their union on the committee. The response was very encouraging. And on April 1, 1987 a Labor Section of the Boonville Public Library was dedicated. The Local Unions that made the opening possible were as follows: UMWA Locals 9926, 1907, 1189, Sheet Metal Workers Local 20, Warrick County Teachers Association and Teamsters Local 215.

The collection started out with books, videotapes, and audio materials either donated or purchased with donations. In the coming years the LLC realized that it was not enough to place the materials in the Library. The LLC needed to make people aware of the materials and spark their desire to utilize the material. So the LLC expanded it's goal from providing educational materials to awareness and promotion of Labor Education. In the next few years the LLC not only continued to add materials to the collection, but hosted lectures by author Jane Slaughter on Quality Circles, training by author Mike Parker on Quality Circles, hosted a presentation by South Africa Union member Nemondy Ngubo on the life of a union member under Apartheid, brought the motion picture Matewan to the tri-state area, introduced labor films during the Labor Day Celebration, presented a special showing of the video Out of Darkness, held a theme writing contest, and sponsored other events. These activities were financed and staffed by members of local unions and associations. Many other labor groups donated funds and participated over the next few years.

The LLC was included in the book A Trouble Makers Handbook as a labor education model for other labor activist.

By 1994 most of the original members had moved to other occupations, and several had moved out of the area, which left the LLC membership down to only a couple active members. From 1994 to 1999 the LLC continued to make small purchases of materials and accept donations to the collection from individuals and groups. During this period of time the LLC was kept alive by the actions of the two remaining officers.

By 1999 the collection had grown to over 400 titles and had become the largest public collection of its type in Indiana. This collection contains books for children, works of fiction, materials for research, music, fictional and documentary movies, archival material, and audiotapes. In 1999 over the Labor Day Holiday the LLC held it's first meeting in years. The meeting was called to see if there was enough interest to get the LLC up and running again. The turn out was encouraging and while some of the faces were familiar most were new.

Represented were Locals 16, 702 and 1393 IBEW, Local 20 SMW, Local 104 USW, Locals 9926, 1189, and 1907 UMWA, Warrick County Teachers NEA and Local 808 IUE. All those present agreed that the goals should be to promote labor education and increase available materials, expand the collection to other locations, and make people aware of the importance of labor education.

By the end of the year 2000 the LLC changed its name to Labor Education Foundation, revised the bylaws, elected new officers, held two events, increased the collection to over 500 titles and took the first steps toward launching our own web page. This would not have been possible with out the work of a dedicated few and the support of people, institutions, and labor groups from Indiana to Washington, DC. In the year 2000 the Foundation received donations of materials form several individuals and monetary donations from AFL-CIO, Southern Indiana Building Trades Council, USWA Local 104, IBEW Local 16, IBEW Local 1393, IBT Local 215, and UMWA Local 4343.