Carrie Cornelius Literature Review 810 What are the current and future information needs of the Prairie

Band Potawatomi reservation population? Problem Statement The Prairie Band Potawatomi Boys and Girls Club is home to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Library. Although the library of 6,000 materials is in the centralized location of tribal services, the library is minimally functioning. No library services are offered. Guided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Native American Library Enhancement Grant, how may this library be furthered to fill the current local needs and help develop strategies to build services that will be needed in the future? By developing an informational needs survey; the community will not only become aware of the library but invest in the ownership of this growing library by providing their input. Literature Review Work done by others Libraries exist to provide public access to knowledge, information and computer technology. Although public library use is rather extensive, rural and tribal libraries often have specific needs for culturally unique communities. Published research is very limited on needs assessment surveys for tribal libraries, so the terminology of rural libraries was utilized to widen the search. The people of the Prairie Band Potawatomi nation feel their religion, language, and ways are unique.

Brown and Webster set the foundation defining the term, tribal library. Tribal library originates in the Indian Self-determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 and subsequent legislation and hearings at the White House conference on Indian Library and Information Services on or near a reservation. The library must be designated by the tribe. It may serve more than one role in the tribal community. These may be support reservation schools and function as a public library, research library, archives, or a tribal college may serve as a public library. Burke identifies the functions of the tribal library as being different than public libraries. First, Tribal libraries highly regard the preservation of language. Secondly, collections reflect the diversity of Native American groups and highlight Native American contributions and Native American life (2007). Thirdly, Tribal libraries manage tribal history and preserving the knowledge of the tribal elders, thus, storing this information for future generations. Fourthly, libraries audiotape and videotape the traditional storytellers to preserve traditional culture. Lastly, tribal libraries store tribal historical documents, government regulations, treaties, and agreements. Crawford studied First Nations library roles in Quebec. She states the library is a, as a place to learn the language, take part in traditional activities, and be the first stop when looking for information regarding community events. In addition, some libraries play an important role in areas of traditional knowledge learning while helping community members realize a solid connection to their ancestors.

Burke also historically summarizes Native Americans library use particularly to public libraries. Native Americans, even the Potawatomi in Topeka, have been excluded from public services within living generations. Other factors which have left reservation natives feeling alienated from public libraries stem from even material. Some material is offensive, biased, and demeaning. Perhaps the older generations still maintain this vision of libraries. Burkes research is based upon a current population survey of Native Americans utilizing public library services. She relates socioeconomic factors such as large indicators of their use. One identifying factor is having a home phone. A very low percent of Native Americans own a phone. Native Americans fall below average for having a home computer and far less that are connected to the Internet. Her factors of use of public libraries were high for using non-English materials, ESL programs, literacy programs. Native Americans while in public libraries were working on school or class assignments, job seeking, or a work-related information seeking. Roy in Services to underrepresented populations, cites only 36% of native peoples live in homeland areas. The Prairie Band Potawatomi reservation, not being the homeland of the Potawatomi, is home to approximately less than 10% of the 4,900 member tribe. Although the tribe maintains a current and active website, the library does not have a website to access to the rest of the tribe and interested patrons to their tribal resources. Roy states grant money is a primary funding for many tribal libraries. The IMLS provides two common grants. First, the Basic Grant, a non-competitive yearly grant of $5,000, is awarded for federally recognized tribes with a library with a three-year plan. The second, Native American Library Enhancement Grant is available to twelve recipients, for a one to two

year plan up to $150,000. The purpose is to expand library services; establish electronic and other linkages and improved coordination among and between libraries and entities; and lastly, to provide training and professional development. Roy, in Services to Underrepresented Populations, cites only 36% of native peoples live in homeland areas. Similarly, Prairie Band Potawatomi reservation, not being the homeland of the Potawatomi, is home to approximately less than 10% of the 4,900 member tribe. If the library maintained a website, digital resources would be available to the other 90% of tribal members. Evaluative methodologies Bala and Adkins conducted a survey by interviews of a rural culturally unique community in Missouri. The community of Latinos increased significantly, so a needs analysis was conducted to find a baseline library use and library needs. The research was conducted in door to door interviews. The format remained the same, finding age, education employment, and use of services. Among the services, computer access was the reported the most frequently. This study could be used as a guide in the questions asked. Various library services were listed. Questions asked what barriers prevented use, so that programs could be developed to bridge user services. Homework help, write and print reports, and help with language acquisition was also priority needs. Greenblatt, while studying library use of Colorado Native Americans, stressed the need for partnerships to provide current health information. Native Americans rate far higher statistics in diabetes and liver disease. One Colorado program created a partnership with the

National Network of Library of Medicine. Developing national health partnerships to provide current information would be a great benefit to include. How proposed research will differ This survey is specific to the members of the Prairie Band population and the local residents on the checkerboard reservation. It is focused upon the current needs to develop a library program to the guidelines of the IMLS Native American Library Enhancement grant. Future needs will be needed to develop a three year plan. A survey such as this has not been done previously for the Prairie Band nation. Even if the grant is not awarded, local members will be made aware of the library and its potential. The information to the future of the library and its potential will be known to the public.

References Bala, B., & Adkins, D. (2004). Library and information needs of Latinos in Dunklin County, Missouri. Public Libraries, 43(2), 119-22. Barta, Carol (2006). Tribal and rural libraries exist by the will of the people. OLA Q 12 no4 Winter, p. 18-19. Burke, Susan K. (2007). The use of public libraries by Native Americans. The Library Quarterly, 77:4. p 429-461, Brown, K. M., et. al., Tribal libraries: vital but often invisible treasures. OLA Quarterly v. 12 no. 4 (Winter 2006) p. 20Crawford, Kelly (2011). Small libraries, big impact: an introduction to Northern Ontarios First Nation Libraries. Feliciter 57:2, p. 54-56. Greenblatt, Ellen (2005). Tribal Connections: Reaching Colorado's Native Americans. Colorado Libraries, 31(3), 27-8. Roy, L. (2007). Services to Underrepresented Populations. Tennessee Libraries (Online), 57(2), p. 1-4.