ATALM annual conference on Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums
| Date | 01 June 2015 |
| Published date | 01 June 2015 |
| Pages | 14-16 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-04-2015-0025 |
| Author | Maitrayee Ghosh |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology |
ATALM annual conference on Indigenous
Archives, Libraries, and Museums
Maitrayee Ghosh
Introduction
The Association of Tribal Archives,
Libraries and Museums (ATALM) is a
non-profit organization formed by a
group of native professionals in the
year 2010, with a vision that every
tribal nation will have its own archive,
library and museum to house historical
photographs, literature, songs, stories,
treaties, legal history, ethnographies
and traditional information pertaining
to each tribe. ATALM provides
culturally relevant training and services
to the tribal libraries, archives and
museums in USA, with major financial
contribution received from the Institute
of Museum and Library Services
(IMLS). The five-member governing
board and an advisory council are the two
main bodies which constitute ATALM.
The annual conferences are the important
events due to the participation of tribal
libraries and similar organizations
engaged in up-lifting of indigenous
populations. ATALM serves as an
advocate for indigenous cultural
institutions with tribal leaders, funders
and government officials. It supports
networking and provides key
information for the directors, managers
and staff of tribal cultural institutions. It
maintains a network of support for
indigenous programs, encourages
collaboration among tribal and non-tribal
cultural institutions and articulates
contemporary issues related to
developing and sustaining the cultural
sovereignty of native nations. ATALM
also conducts studies on tribal cultural
institutions periodically.
The ATALM 2014 international
conference was organized in partnership
with federal IMLS which provided major
support to this event. The IMLS is the
primary source of federal support for
the libraries and museums in the USA;
the mission is to inspire libraries and
museums to advance innovation,
lifelong learning and cultural and civic
engagement. The IMLS supports
ATALM to develop international
network and collaboration among
indigenous libraries, archives and
museums worldwide and preserves
indigenous cultures. The purpose of
most tribal libraries is to provide the
recreational reading materials of
popular interest and act as community
Information and Activities Center,
Independent Learning Center, Research
Center and Computer Access Center for
the tribal communities.
Tribal libraries may also function as
an archive, cultural centre or as the
records management program for the
tribal government. Added activities
may include those designed to preserve
the history and culture of the tribe
(Patterson et al., 2008).
The tribal libraries, archives and
museums have following unique features:
●Tribal libraries, archives and
museums are generally located in
remote areas with limited
information and communications
technology infrastructure, training or
resources. The collection includes
sacred materials, tribal personal
belongings, palm leaves, clay tablets,
etc.
●Promotion and preservation of tribal
culture, life ways, memory,
institutional architecture/interior
design and native language.
●The staff members are knowledgeable
“cultural keepers” but may have
limited experiences on library
management and collection
development.
●The funding sources are different
in tribal libraries than public
libraries in the USA. The majority
of funding for indigenous libraries,
archives and museums (LAMs) is
from IMLS and tribal governments.
Tribal archival records include
genealogical material, including tribal
membership rolls, financial and legal
records of individual tribal members
and institutions, including documents
that support legal claim (Roy and
Alonzo, 2003):
For me, it was once in a life time
conference. As a first-timer, shy and new
person, I found myself isolated and out of
place, but I managed to adjust myself
since we all have the common
professional goals. The desert mountains,
tree-lined canyons and hot springs are
famous in Palm Springs [. . .]. I liked the
swaying palm trees and mountains which
is naturally resplendent.
Conference venue, local culture and
participants
The conference was held at the
Renaissance Palm Springs hotel during
the period June 9-12, 2014. The city of
Palm Spring is known as a place with
more than 350 days of sunshine,
commonly called as place of “Fun in
the Sun year-round”. Now-a-days, Palm
Springs and the surrounding areas are
experiencing tremendous renaissance and
developmental activities; nestled at the
base of the majestic San Jacinto
Mountains, the city is the ancestral home
of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla
Indians. The Agua Caliente Band of
Cahuilla Indians is a federally recognized
tribe of Cahuilla Indians. The Indian
Canyons consisting of Palm Canyon,
Murray Canyon and Andreas Canyon and
the headquarters are in Palm Springs.
The word “Cahuilla” means the
“Masters” or “powerful ones”; the
Agua Caliente Band of the Cahuilla is
an important player in the local
economy and developmental process of
the Palm Springs. The tribe is the city’s
largest collective landowner and owns
LIBRARY HITECH NEWS Number 4 2015, pp. 14-16, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 0741-9058, DOI 10.1108/LHTN-04-2015-002514
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