Public Library Resources - American Indian Library Association

Public Library Resources

American Indian Resource Center – at Huntington Park Library in Los Angeles. “Established in 1979 to meet the informational, cultural and educational needs of Native Americans in Los Angeles County and to make information about them available to the larger community.”

American Indians in Children’s Literature Blog by AILA member Debbie Reese. “Established in 2006, American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL) provides critical perspectives and analysis of indigenous peoples in children’s and young adult books, the school curriculum, popular culture, and society.”

American Library Association Office for Diversity Inclusive Booklists, These booklists highlight diverse voices including racial diversity and sexuality and can be used in the classroom and when ordering collections. There are many booklists in the world that are categorized by topic, but these booklists ensure that underrepresented voices are being heard as well.

American Native Press Archives – “… collecting and archiving the products of the Native press and materials related to Native press history, collecting and documenting the works of Native writers, and constructing bibliographic guides to Native writing and publishing.”

AIATSIS – Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies is a world-renowned research, collections and publishing organization. (from Australia)

ATALM (Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums) – “a non-profit organization that supports the growing field of indigenous cultural institutions.”

Bibliographies of Northern and Central California Indians – Bibliography project from University of California, Berkeley, discontinued in 1995.

Children’s & YA Books by Native Authors & Illustrators and Children’s and YA Books With Contemporary Native Themes – from Muskogee Creek children’s author Cynthia L. Smith.

A Community Guide to Protecting Indigenous Knowledge (pdf), by Simon Brascoupe and Howard Mann, for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 2001.

Culturally Responsive Guidelines for Alaska Public Libraries (2001) – from the Alaska Native Knowledge Network.

Real Life Indian This project encapsulates the fears, issues, aspirations, emotions and dreams of what it means to be a human being but in particular a “Real Life”………Indian…

Examining Multicultural Picture Books for the Early Childhood Classroom: Possibilities and Pitfalls” – a 2001 article from the journal ECRP – Early Childhood Research & Practice.

FCC Tribal Initiatives – “A resource for tribal governments, organizations and consumers in expanding telecommunications services in Indian Country.”

E-Rate Funding for Tribal Libraries and Schools– The National Congress of American Indians Resolution Support for the Creation of a ‘Tribal Priority’ in E-Rate Funding for Tribal Libraries and Schools

Native Knowledge 360 Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°) provides educators and students with new perspectives on Native American history and cultures. Created by Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

Project 562 Project 562 develops a body of imagery and cultural representations of Native Peoples to counteract the relentlessly insipid, one-dimensional stereotypes circulating in mainstream media, historical textbooks and the culture industry.

Guiding Principles for IFLA’s position concerning international treaties relating to Traditional Cultural Expressions (2012), from The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).

Librarianship and Traditional Cultural Expressions: Nurturing Understanding and Respect – This 2010 statement (Version 7.0) endorsed by AILA.

If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything – A family literacy program led by AILA member Loriene Roy from 2008-2010 to assist the libraries serving Native American children in increasing reading skills while preserving Native identity.

Mashantucket Pequot Research Library and Tribal Archives – see their e-book and blog

National Indian Law Library – “a public law library devoted to federal Indian and tribal law.”

Proceed with Caution: Using Native American Folktales in the Classroom This article by Dr. Debbie Reese focuses on unlearning stereotypical representations of Indigenous peoples and replacing harmful narratives with accurate information and understandings.

YALSA Teen Book Finder– includes recent AILA Youth Literature Award winners and honor books

Native Voices: Native Peoples concepts of health and illness online exhibit from the National Library of Medicine that explores diverse Native Peoples’ concepts of health and illness, past and present. Lesson Plans for K-12 and Primary sources

National Museum of the American Indian – Native Words, Native Warriors and Code Talkers

Native American Heritage Month– The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans.

Native Health Database – “Contains bibliographic information and abstracts of health-related articles, reports, surveys, and other resource documents pertaining to the health and health care of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Canadian First Nations” from the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center.

American Indian and Alaska Native Health is a central source for information about the health and well-being of Native Americans and Alaska Natives from the National Institutes of Health and National Library of Medicine.

Native American Health from MedlinePlus– Information for individuals, healthcare professionals, and educators.

American Indian/Alaska Native Profiles – provides statistics on various diseases and IHS contact information.

Critical Indigenous Literacies: Selecting and Using Children’s Books about Indigenous Peoples– To counter flawed representations found throughout popular culture and the media, the author, Dr. Debbie Reese, draws on her identity as a woman from the Nambe Pueblo to help teachers select children’s books that are realistic in their presentation of Native peoples, as well as factually, historically, and culturally accurate.

Pathways to Excellence: A Report on Improving Library and Information Services for Native American Peoples The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science initiative to study library and information services for Native American peoples. This 1992 report is the culmination of the evaluation, which included site visits and field hearings.

Protocols for Native American Archival Materials – “These Protocols describe, from a Native American perspective, best practices for the culturally responsive care of American Indian archival collections held in non-tribal repositories.” From the First Archivists Circle.

Talk Story: Sharing stories, sharing culture is a joint literacy program that reaches out to Asian Pacific American and American Indian/Alaska Native children and their families. The program celebrates and explores their stories through books, oral traditions, and art to provide an interactive, enriching experience.

American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Awards-Honors the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians

The Center of Native American Youth– a national advocacy organization working to improve the health, safety, and overall well-being of Native American youth ages 24 and under.

National Congress of American Indians– The National Congress of American Indians, founded in 1944, is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium-, a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a board of directors composed of the presidents of the accredited United States-based Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), is the collective spirit and unifying voice of our nation’s 38 TCUs.

Library Services to Indigenous Populations: Viewpoints and Resources– AILA member and outgoing president (2004-2005) Kelly Webster has edited a volume of essays by other AILA members

“I” is For Inclusion: The Portrayal of Native Americans in Books for Young People (pdf file) Program of the ALA/OLOS Subcommittee for Library Services to American Indian People. American Indian Library Association. Washington, D.C., June 23, 2007. Compiled by Naomi Caldwell, Gabriella Kaye, Lisa A. Mitten. Updated October 2007.

“I” IS NOT FOR INDIAN” Selective Bibliography and Guide for the program, ““I” is Not for Indian: The Portrayal of Indians in Books for Young People”, by the ALA/OLOS Subcommittee for Library Services to American Indian People and American Indian Library Association, Atlanta, June 29, 1991. Compiled by Naomi Caldwell-Wood and Lisa A. Mitten.

UNITY is a national network organization promoting personal development, citizenship, and leadership among Native American youth.

Indian Health Services Native Youth Resources for youth and teens

National American Indian Education Association– resources for educators, students, and advocates to learn about effective strategies, innovative programming, and professional learning opportunities aligned with creating a safe, successful and supportive learning environment.

Indigenous Sovereignty– launched by the Seattle Public library in 2018 Public Programs focused on the Indigenous communities in the Northwest

The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) is dedicated to the well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native children and families.