Identification of Information Needs of the American Indian Community That Can Be Met by Library Services. Phase III. Annual Report

DOCUMENT RESUME ED 105 855 52 IR 001 886 AUTHOR Antell, Lee TITLE Identificati4n of Infprmation Needs of the American Indian Community That Can be Met by Library Services. Phase III. Annual Feport. INSTITUTION National Indian Education Association, Minneapolis, Minn. SPONS AGENCY Bureau of Libraries and Learning Resources (:..IEW/OE), Washington, D.C. BUREAU NO BR-1-0622H PUB DATE 30 Jun 74 GRANT OEG-0-71-4564 NOTE 239p.; For a related document see IR 001 868; Appendices will reprodupe poorly; Best Copy Available EDRS PRICE MF-$0.76 HC-$12.05 PLUS POSTAGE DESCRIFTOES *American Indians; Annual Reports; *Demonstration Frojects; *Federal Programs; Information Dissemination; Information Needs; Library Expenditures; Library Programs; *Library Services; *Outreach Programs; Program Evaluation; Public Libraries: Tables (rata) IDENTIFIERS *National Indian Education Association; NIEA ABSTRACT The National Indian Education Asswiation (NIEA) was i awarded a grant by the Bureau of Libraries and LearningResources of the United States qrfice of Education to identifyLibrary, and information needs of Indian people and to establish, operate,and evaluate three demonstration site A. Phases olle and two of theproject consisted of the identification and establishment of thethree sites. Rough Rock Community School, Arizona; St. Regis MohawkReservation, New York; and Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, No :thDakota.. Phase three concerned itself with the operational aspects ofIndian library and information services at these sites. Activitiesduring this teporting Period included collectiOb expansion, the addition of nonprint services, anemuseum and radio programs. Problems of, community political controversy, vandalis,:e and finance werealso dealt with. Some general conclusions on Indian libraryservice were drawn from the experiences at the three sites. TheLibrarProject began an active dissemination sites. Appendixes tothis port contain statistics and narrative evaluations of the thresites, plus many project dissemination materials. (Author/SL) BESTCOPYAVAILABLE ANNUAL REPORT Project No. 1-0622H Grant No. OEG-0-71-4564 Lee Antell National Indian Education Association 3036 University Avenue,,S.E. Suite 3 Minneapolis, Minnesota 5541-F-- Phase III Identification of Information Needs of theAmerican Indian Community That Can be Met by libraryServices June 30, 1974 U:S. Department of Health,Education, and Welfare U.S. Office of Education Division of Library Programs S DEPARTMENT OF E.EAL EDUCATION &WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DUCA,I0E4 . iney4FN, AS AFFE, PE Pf., ,'En OP 'Cv AS RECEvf E, ia PERSON Or, ORGAN tA,ON 9W C DO NC,t Nf(f, PiPPh rrt .A' (`NP. fp 'AT -1 No TABLE OF CONTFNTS 1 ,- Ps- Introduction .1-5 Major Activities and Accomplishments .6-28 _ . III. Problems 29-38 IV. Signifidant Findings and Events 39-42 V. Dissemination Activities 43-44 VI. Capital Equipment Acquisitions 45 VII. aDat;- Collection 46-109 VIII. Other Activities 110-112 k 0 IX. Staff Utilization . 113 . X. Activities Planned for the Next Reporting Period J 114 XI. Appendices 115 I : Y I. INTRODUCTION PHASE I The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was awarded a grant by the Bureau of Libraries and ',earning Resou/ces (B.L.L.R1? of the United States Office of Educa- tion to identify library-informational needs of Indian people and to establish, operate and evaluate three demonstration sites for research and demonstration. The results of the first phase have been completed and reported in a document entitled, The National Indian Education Associa- tion Library Project. The complete document consists of 'aspparate report far each of the sites %rid an appendix which inclddes copies of each of the data-gathering inst- ruments employed. The second phase is reported in an annual report dated June 30, 1973. Following is a short summary of the first two phases. DESCRIPTION g,11 THE PROJECT THE NIEA LIBRARY PROJECT IS CONCERNED WITH THE INFORMATION-LIBRARY NEEDS OF INDIAN PEOPLE The National Indian Education Association and its oificers were concerned that federal expenditures for a library programs appeared to have little direct impact on the unmet informational needs of AmericanIndiany. To remedy this situation, the NIEA sought to establish a'research and development program that woulki identify informational needs of Indian people and establish demonstration centers where special materials and unique delivery mechanisms could be evaluated. As an Indian organization which was national in scope and dedicated to improving the quality of life amont, Indian people, and capable of relating to a variety of tribal agencies, the NIEA is singularly qualified for this task. The National Indian Education Association submitted a proposal, which was then evaluated under the Bureau of Libraries and Lear-in§ Resources criteria, revised :and finally ( approved for funding. THE NIEA-LIBRARY PROJECT IS A FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM I The ultimate goals and objectives of thi roject were expressed in the statement of purpose colkined in the orig- inal proposal as follows: "The purpose of this project is-to plan, cevelop, and demonstrate library programs that meet infol- mational needs in Indian communities. The project is planned in four phases: (1) identification, 1 -3- of informational needs 'through intensive research in selected Indian school communities and development-of proposed delivery systems intended to meet these needs; (2) implemen- tation of demonstration programs; (3) operation-of demonstration centers; and (4) evaluation of demonstration center effectiveness." THE FIRST PHASE OF4EPROJECT HAD THREE OPERATIONP. OBJECTIVES The first phase of the NIFA Library Pro cc11Neted betwedn July 1, 1971 and June.3(), 1972 was c d with developing research designs and gathering data bout the -informational needs of Indian people. The three major operational objectives in this process were as follows: 1) The identificaticn of three research 'and demonstration sites. The following demonstration sites were selected by the NIEA ExecutiveCommittee which `N. acted'as a Library Protect Policy Board: * Rough Rock Community School Navajo Reservation, Arizona St. Regis Mohawk Reservation Hogansburg, New York * Standing Rock Sioux Reservation Fort Yates, North Dakota 2) The identification of informational needs at the 111 tg-ee sites which could De met by library-media 4- -4- services. Extensive .Indian involvement was 41/ employed in developing the following questionn- ' aireS, interview scheduled, and checklists for use in data collection on the three sites: * Elementary Student Information Needs Questionnaire * Library-Information Needs Questionn- aire * Elementary Teacher Library Informa- tional Needs Questionnaire * S&condary Teacher Library Information Needs Questionnaire * Adult Information Needs Interview Schedule * Library Inventory Checklist * Community Inventory Checklist 3) The development of plans for demonstration centers using specialmaterialsand delivery. mechanisms. Special media and library consultants were retained to suggest way in w:ich procedures and tech- /new nology could be used to meet the needs whichweame identified. The proposed models were not binding on the demonstration sites. THE SECOND PHASE r- THE PROJECT HAD SIX OBJECTIVES 1) Establish and organizational-administrative struc- r ture. Staff were hired and their relationships with the Advisory Board and the tribal councils I and school boards defined. 110 2) Provide technical assistance in developing plant facilities and equipmen Appropriate temporary and permanent facilities.as well as equipment were developed and acquired. 3) Acquire commercially available materials. The .quality and quantity. of materials were greatly improved over the past year. d. 4) Develop special resources related to local needs. Staff idgntified and began to develop special materials and services required by each local site. - 5) Acquire audiovisual media required to implement 111 the local model. Necessary audiovisual materials were acquired for site use. 6) Recruit and train staff required for initial and continued operation. Local staff for each site were recruited and trained. Site operations 'commenced from six to.ten months ahead of schedule. 8 -6- iII. MAJOR ACTIVITIES AND CCOMPLISHMENTS Phase III f the NIEA Library Project has concerned itself with t1° e operational aspects of Indianlibary and information services as they relate to the five objectives' of the Phase III .proposal: 4 ,1) Continue development organizational structures, .50 . delivery mechanisms,.and collections. 2) .,Develop outreach strategies which meet community .needs. 3) Establish production centers capable of creating information. 1 4) Provide technical assistance and raise funds. 5) Develop increasing local autonomy. At each site the Project has operated severaldiscrete operational components, testing each component'sviability and'usefullness in the local community. The staff have devoted their time to developing each component toits highest potential, dealing with its opportunities and problems, and measuring its effectiveness in eachspecifid community. The results of these activities are reported' in the following paragraphs. A A. Akwesasne' Akwesasne retained its able staffingpattern) 1 9 I) 4 -7-- for the year. No resignations occurred. Anna Rourke has continued to grow in her capacity as Liidrary Air- ` .ector. One visible sign of her developing- ability is that she wrote the L.S.C.A. proposal which was funded -... by the New York State Library. The Library

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