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In the winter 2006 newsletter of the South Carolina State Library Talking Book Services, library director Pamela Davenport reported on the first statewide Native American Conference "Mending the Circle," held on November 20, 2005. The conference was hosted by the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs. Participants included the library, other state agencies, and community-based organizations. Ac- cording to the article, it was the first time in South Carolina history that state recognition was bestowed on the following tribes and groups, by the board of the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs:
Information about the South Carolina talking-book program was provided to participants, many of whom were Native Americans from all over the state. Participants also learned of Native American titles available through the library's "Focus on Native Americans" initiative. "Talking Book Services was proud to be a part of this history- making event and we will continue to raise the bar as we reach out to the community," said Davenport.
In an article in Public Libraries, Loriene Roy and Antony Cherian reported on a scholarship program to recruit tribally recognized Native American students into library schools. A grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and support from the American Library Association and the Tocker Foundation are providing funding for the graduate education of six indigenous students. The students will specialize in one of three career areas: tribal school librarianship, tribal community (public) librarianship, or tribal academic librarianship. The program, "Honoring Generations," began in October 2003 at the University of Texas School of Information and builds on the school's long-standing work with tribal communities. Funding beyond the allocated three-year grant is needed to continue to provide professionally trained librarians in tribal schools, tribal community libraries, public libraries, and tribal colleges.
For details, please read: "Honoring Generations: Recruiting Native Students Into Careers in Librarianship", by Loriene Roy and Antony Cherian. Public Libraries, v. 45, January-February 2006, pages 48 52.
Loriene Roy, of the Minnesota Cheppewa Tribe, was recently elected president of the American Library Association for the 2007 2008 term. Roy is a past president of the American Indian Library Association (AILA) and founder of "If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything," a national reading club for Native American children. The program promotes library usage at Native schools, encourages Native children and community members to read for pleasure, and works to increase reading skills while preserving Indian identity through family literacy activities. The June 2001 (01-01) issue of Focus on Native Americans included a report on the program. Additional information is available at http://www.gslis.utexas.edu/~ifican/.
Native American basket traditions will be one of the themes at the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival held June 30 July 4 and July 7 11, 2006, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. "Carriers of Culture: Living Native Basket Traditions" will examine the ways in which Native baskets and their makers are literally and symbolically "carriers of culture." Eighty Native American master basket makers will demonstrate the weaving traditions of their respective communities. This is a joint project of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the Michigan State University Museum. Admission to the festival is free. Hours are 11:00 a.m. 5:30 p.m. each day, with concerts, dance parties, and special events until 9:00 p.m. For further information see www.folklife.si.edu/center/festival.html and click on "2006."
Updated May 22, 2006