Libraries match their collections, services, and spaces to the community and the community’s wants and needs. This makes tribal libraries bi-cultural institutions as they provide access to both indigenous knowledge and western knowledge. In other words, tribal libraries can be places where a patron can check out the latest Game of Thrones book and come to learn from tribal elders.
In TLAM class on Thursday, March 3rd we talked about how tribal libraries provide bi-cultural knowledge for their patrons and why it is so important. Specifically, we discussed how important it is for tribal libraries to provide access to information about native history and traditions from a native perspective, since the colonial and post-colonial perspectives often distort, misrepresent, or ignore native history.
Since American Indians have traditionally oral cultures, one of the ways tribal libraries provide access to indigenous knowledge is through the living resources, i.e. the people, in their community. The libraries function as a place where people can come to share knowledge together. For example, some libraries host storytelling events where elders share their language and stories that hold their cultural heritage. Some tribal libraries also host cultural programming where community members teach other community members about skills or traditions, such as learning how to make moccasins, how to do traditional beadwork, or how you know when to tap the maple trees in the spring.
In class we looked at some tribal libraries. We learned about the Tuzzy Consortium Library in Barrow Alaska and the Laguna Public Library in Laguna, New Mexico. Both libraries provide traditional library services as well as culturally relevant native materials and programming.
As future information professionals we may not all work in tribal libraries or directly with tribal communities, however it is important to consider American Indian perspectives in the resources we collect and in the services we provide for the people we serve.
-Kayleen Jones