The need for American Indian librarians

Anonymous Patron writes “Native American Times Guest writer Michael McLaughlin says In the contemporary world, libraries are the primary institutions that teach about American Indians – to the world, and often to ourselves. And because everything that impacts Indian country on and off the rez – educational programs, social service programs, economic development, criminal justice, all tribal-state-local-federal government relations, the media, and public opinion – are informed by materials contained in libraries. In a world which continues to stereotype American Indians and which remains largely “cluelessâ€? of the facts about American Indians in American society, there needs to be American Indian library professionals to help guide information seekers to the facts about American Indians – past, present, and future, and to incorporate American Indian perspectives in those institutions that mandate how people are taught and what they learn.”

October 13, 2005 by Uncategorized 2

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2 Responses

  1. rochelle says:
    October 13, 2005 at 8:56 pm

    Native American materials selection
    I was really pleased to see that my consortium, Alliance Library System, is offering a workshop on selecting Native American materials for libraries. As someone who majored in anthropology and focused on indigenous American people, it mortifies me to see outdated, inaccurate materials in libraries and classrooms. And, it seems like kids are still assigned “Indians” projects during November, (Native American Heritage Month, and Thanksgiving), and little kids get to play Indian by making paper head dresses and making war woops. Sigh.

    Please consider sharing librarian Lisa Mitten’s excellent resource on Native American websites. She’s started the project in 2000 and keeps it updated regularly.

    Reply
  2. Ree_boy says:
    October 14, 2005 at 1:43 am

    Tribal college librarians
    I happened to read the NAT article before I read the post in LISNews. I’m fairly new to the library world, but what bothered me the most were the article’s concerns related to sovereignty. Classification issues are certainly appalling, but that a lack of categorization exists for tribal entities is a condition of which I was unaware. Is McLaughlin’s assertation true?

    BTW, an institute exists devoted to tribal college librarians in Montana, but I don’t currently have the link! 🙁

    Reply

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