Finding face: building collections to support indigenous identity
| Published date | 07 January 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/CC-08-2017-0032 |
| Date | 07 January 2019 |
| Pages | 19-22 |
| Author | Loriene Roy |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Collection building & management |
Finding face: building collections to support
indigenous identity
Loriene Roy
School of Information, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to review content provided in an article published in 1993 to determine if there is still a need to provide information
services to American Indians living away from their homeland areas.
Design/methodology/approach –The design involved reviewing the content and recommendations provided in the 1993 article and then to
update this content by reviewing updated US Census data, a literature review and observed examples based on personal observations and
experiences.
Findings –The paper found that there is still a need for services due to increased American Indian population . While more American Indian
librarians are employed, there is still a need for all librarians to learn how to serve this population.
Originality/value –While the article reviews content from 1993, it provides original perspectives and adds additional evaluation criteria.
Keywords Continuing education, Diversity, Collection management, Librarian education, Librarian demographics, Libraries and American Indians
Paper type Viewpoint
In 1993, Collection Buildingpublished an article on how libraries
might assist indigenous patrons in reinforcing their native
identity, especially if they lived far from their tribal
communities (Roy, 1993). This articlerevisits and updates the
content presentedover 20 years ago.
Continuing interest
A good place to start this discussion is to ask whetherthe topic
of building collections to serve American Indians living away
from their tribes is relevant. The short answer is: yes. In the
twenty-first century, therecontinues to be interest in American
Indian culture by the public at largewhile native communities
are asserting, sharing, protecting and caring for expressions of
their traditional knowledge. This sustained interest is in part
due to the rise in native studies programs and research in
academia, the increase and urgency of native language
revitalization efforts and the ability to connect people through
various social media. Native identity and family history
continue to be discussed among native peoplesthemselves and
by non-natives tracking genealogical links, now often supplied
with results from DNA test kits.
While there may be easy access to some content on
indigenous matters, those seeking information may need
personal interventionto locate additional information and/or to
connect with others at human and personal levels. People can
easily locate some information through a simple google search,
but they are more likely to be confused with an overwhelming
number of scattered results. As with most people conducting a
search for information, native people will need help locating
relevant, trustworthy information and acquiring skills in
information and media literacy that will enable them to launch
and continue effectivesearching in the future.
Thus, native and non-indigenous library patrons interested
in native culture and issues may still need assistance and
support from libraries, especially if they reside at a distance
from tribal homeland areas. The native seekers of information
are on what Cajete refers to as the path of seeking a fulfilled life
as an indigenous person. These are the actions associated with
“discovering one’s true face (character, potential, identity),
one’s heart (soul, creative self, true passion), and one’s
foundation (truework, vocation)”(Cajete, 1994, p. 23).
American Indians and Alaska natives: general and
librarian population demographics
Another argument for considered customized services for
American Indian patrons is that their numbers are increasing.
US Census information from 2010 reports that the American
Indian population continues to grow, with 2.9 million people
self-reporting that they are American Indian or Alaska native
and another 2.3 million reporting that they were of mixed
heritage. A library in any locationmight be serving members of
these populations: 78 per cent of these 5.3 million people live
outside of Indian country(Norris et al., 2012).
Along with an increase in the number of American Indians
due to self-identity and the revised pattern of counting mixed
heritage individuals, there has been an increase in the number
of American Indian librarians. A number of initiatives were
launched after 1993 to increase the numbersof nativelibrarians
through financial support to attend graduate schools of library
and information science. These include programs at the
University of Arizona (Knowledge River), the University of
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on
Emerald Insight at: www.emeraldinsight.com/2514-9326.htm
Collection and Curation
38/1 (2019) 19–22
© Emerald Publishing Limited [ISSN 2514-9326]
[DOI 10.1108/CC-08-2017-0032]
Received 1 August 2017
Accepted 29 December 2017
19
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