Developing the Library Collection for Native American Studies

Buentello, Ruby

Norton, Donna E.  & Norton, Saundra E. (2008) Developing the library collection for native american studies, The Acquisitions Librarian, 5:9-10, 247-266, DOI: 10.1300/J101v05n09_18

Summary: This article broke down what a Native American Studies Collection should look like at an academic library. The authors provided a list of the types of literature that must be part of the library collection, criteria’s and examples for evaluating Native American literature and lastly, discussing issues of concern when developing the collection. The review of the types of literature that must be included along with the examples indeed meet the needs of students, scholars and the general public interested in Native American Studies.

Evaluation:  As the authors described the types of literature and why they must be in the collection, I found myself making connections and comparisons to my previous university’s Native American Studies Collection. It described how to use the different literature types together or merely the benefit of having different kinds of literature. The criteria’s for evaluating Native American literature is an excellent guide to make sure you can meet the needs and future research needs of the students and scholars and also that you are respectful of the information/culture.

Native American Literature in Collection Development

Buentello, Ruby

Christopher Shaffer, (2007) "Native American literature in collection development", Collection Building, Vol. 26 Issue: 4, pp.127-129, https://doi.org/10.1108/01604950710831933

Summary: This article provides reasons why libraries should and continue to develop their Native American collection in a positive and contemporary way, addresses issues collection developers may come across and suggests other connections to explore. Developing a collection in a modern style means, of course, making sure current books in the collection and future purchases do not include racist terminology or perpetuate negative stereotypes of Native Americans. The issue of how to tackle adding material to the children’s collection and balancing out purchasing titles by Native American authors and titles about the culture by non-natives is addressed, as well as making sure all groups are represented, and the real history is said. Regarding connections, there is mention of acknowledging that many the  oral tradition of storytelling and suggests that libraries invite tribal elders to share this tradition at the library.

Evaluation: I pay careful attention to the Native American history/culture section at libraries when I visit because I’m interested to see what’s in the collection and I like to see in what perspective the story a told. I have come across books in the juvenile section that refers to natives a “savages” or makes it seem like there are no more Native Americans, which goes to show how neglected a collection can get. Despite encountering this, there has been significant progress in incorporating Native American literature into our collections. There are more native American authors publishing books and libraries celebrate and display Native American Heritage Month and continue the tradition of oral storytelling through programs such as Story Time or Bi-lingual Story Time.