Gallup is a city of 21,000 residents while McKinley county is 70,000 residents and serves as a commercial hub for the nearby Indigenous communities. It borders the Navajo Nation, has one of the lowest per capita incomes ($15,000), 25% have not graduated high school, and only 43% have internet access. Octavia Fellin Public Library’s services are essential to bridging educational, technological and cultural gaps.

The only public library in the 5,500 square mile county, it serves an expansive area and is organized in two small buildings housing a separate main and children’s collection. OFPL is staffed by 18 employees, the majority of which are indigenous.