Focus on Native Americans No. 98-01

Date:  Winter 1998

Subject:  Native American Library Services and Native
Hawaiian Library Services

Index term:  Focus on Native Americans

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which
now adminsters the Library Services and Technology Act
(LSTA) grants, has recently issued new guidelines for
project proposals for FY 1998 for its Native American
Library Services program.  This program helps improve
library services to meet the needs of Indian tribes and
Alaska Native villages through basic library services
grants, technical assistance grants, and enhancement grants.

The LSTA statute, as recently amended (P.L. 105-128, Dec. 1,
1997), provides that 1.75 percent of LSTA appropriations be
reserved for library services to Native Americans.

The _Basic Library Services grants_ are small grant awards
that support core library operations on a noncompetitive
basis to eligible tribal libraries.  They ensure a minium
level of public library service.  Funds may be used for such
costs as salaries for library personnel, planning and needs
assessment, inservice training of library personnel, library
materials (including books, journals, electronic resources,
and equipment), library supplies, telecommunication services
and equipment, and fees for participation in networks and
consortia that provide the library with direct services.

The _Technical Assistance grants_ are intended to heighten
the level of professional proficiency for library staff of
an established library.  These small noncompetitive grants
provide support for a professional assessment of the
effectiveness of library operations that may include
staffing, financial management, types and levels of
services, and collections development and management.  An
assessment of specialized operations may relate to:
establishing or enhancing electronic linkages among or
between libraries; electronically linking libraries with
educational, social, or information services; targeting
library and information services to persons having
difficulty using a library and to underserved urban and
rural communities, including children (from birth through
age 17) from families with incomes below the poverty line.

The _Enhancement grants_ support activities to advance the
applicant library's operations to new levels of service for
activities identified in the Library Services and Technology
Act.  The grants are competitive and are intended to
encourage the implementation of both mainstream and
innovative library practices.  Projects may relate to:
assisting libraries in accessing information through
electronic networks; encouraging libraries in different
areas and of various types to establish consortia and share
resources; and paying costs for libraries to acquire or
share computer systems and telecommunications technologies.
To be eligible for an Enhancement grant, the tribe or
village must be receiving a Basic Library Services grant in
the same fiscal year.

There is no set application deadline; grants begin October
1, 1998. Application guidelines are available by contacting
the Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC  20506, (202)
606-5227-voice, (202) 606-8636-TTY.   A cassette copy is
also available.
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]
Website: http://www.imls.fed.us/guidelines/nalser.html

A _Native Hawaiian Library Services grant_ is available to
organizations that primarily serve and represent Native
Hawaiians to support library services to the Native Hawaiian
community.  They may be used to enhance existing library
services or to implement new library services, particularly
as they relate to: establishing or enhancing electronic
linkages among or between libraries; electronically linking
libraries with educational, social, or information services;
assisting libraries in accessing information through
electronic networks; encouraging libraries in different
areas and of various types to establish consortia and share
resources; paying costs for libraries to acquire or share
computer systems and telecommunications technologies; and
targeting library and information services to persons having
difficulty using a library and to underserved urban and
rural communities, including children (from birth through
age 17) from families with incomes below the poverty line.

A portion of LSTA appropriations for library services to
Native Americans is to be used for services to Native
Hawaiians.

There is no set application deadline.  Funds must be
expended within the one-year grant period which begins Oct.
1, 1998, and ends Sept. 30, 1999.

Application guidelines are available by contacting the
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania
Avenue NW, Washington, DC   20506,  (202) 606-5227-voice,
(202) 606-8636-TTY.
Website: http://www.imls.fed.us/guidelines/nhsler.html

_American Indian Library Association_
The American Indian Library Association (AILA) will present
a one-day conference "American Indian Issues and Resources:
Tribal Views and Federal Sources " on Friday June 26, 1998,
in Washington, D.C., prior to the American Library
Association's annual convention.  Advance registration is
required.  They will also hold their business meeting during
the conference on Sunday, June 28, from 8:00-10:00 p.m.  For
further information see the AILA website.
Website: http://www.pit.edu/lmitten/aila

_Reminder_
During the National Conference of Librarians Serving Blind
and Physically Handicapped Individuals in Burlington,
Vermont, May 2-7, 1998, there will be a "Focus on
Native Americans" breakfast colloquy, May 7, 8:15 to 9:00
a.m. in the Adirondack Ballroom.  Dan Boyd, regional
librarian of the South Dakota Braille and Talking Book
Library, will be the moderator.