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In late September, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded $1,569,000 in competitive grants to twelve Native American libraries across the nation. These Native American Enhancement Grants support innovative uses of technology to help Native American libraries safeguard their tribes' customs, enhance existing library services, and implement new library services. The press release and grant list can be found at <www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/092402-1.htm>. For further information about the program, contact Terri Brown, program officer, IMLS, at (202) 606-5408, or via e-mail: tbrown@imls.gov.
In addition to these grants, more than 250 Native American libraries received funds to support core library operations, as well as professional advice on how to improve a full range of library services, including staffing, financial management, and collection development. A complete list of grant recipients organized by state is available at <www.imls.gov/whatsnew/stategrants0702.htm>.
Information about the IMLS Native American Library Services grant programs, including application and guidelines, is available at <www.imls.gov/grants/library/lib_nat.asp>.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Native American Access to Technology Training is providing funds to the New Mexico State Library's Tribal Libraries Program (TLP) to extend its computer training outreach to all New Mexico tribal communities for 2002-2003. Training for tribal program staff and community members will cover a variety of workshops based on local needs, including training in the use of software programs such as Excel and Word, e-commerce web design, and self-published booklets.
TLP provides specialized library development services to tribal communities on a statewide basis. It is the first of its kind in the nation. State support began in 1998 and has continued with major backing from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Activities and projects from earlier years can be found at <www.stlib.state.nm.us/libraryservices/tribel/tribel.html>.
On June 17, 2002, the American Indian Library Association sponsored a program at the annual conference of the American Library Association in Atlanta, Georgia. It featured the Santa Fe Indian School Library. The library media coordinator, Alana McCrattan, presented a paper on students' library projects, including the Santa Fe Indian School Family Album. This project focused on researching the history, art, and architecture of the school; photographing the murals on campus; creating an archive; and digitizing the collection. Two students from the school participated in the presentation. Other projects included community service programs in tribal and school libraries and student library internships. For details contact Alana McCrattan at <alanam@sfis.k12.nm.us>.
The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington D.C. is sponsoring a special exhibit, "George Catlin and His Indian Gallery," September 6- January 20, 2003. This exhibition presents over 400 paintings created by Catlin during his travel among the Plains Indians in the 1830s and reflects their "manners and customs."
Details on the exhibit can be found at <americanart.si.edu/collections/ exhibits/catlin/index.html>.
Montgomery County's Maryland Public Library system has compiled a listing of web sites on Native Americans to answer commonly asked questions. The list includes web sites for primary source material and those useful for elementary school assignments. Of particular interest are sites dealing with Native American authors. Look at <www.montgomerylibrary.org/surthenet/aiweblinks.asp>.
November is Native American Heritage month.
Updated December 19, 2002
