FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2005

Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Eileen Maxwell, emaxwell@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

Over $1.3 Million in Federal Grants to Improve Library Service for Native Americans

237 Native American tribal communities and Alaska Native Villages will benefit

Washington, DC—The federal Institute of Museum and Library Services today awarded Native American tribes across the country $1,361,000 in grants to improve library services. In all, 229 grants will strengthen library service for 237 Native American tribal communities and Alaska Native villages. Click here for a list of grant recipients.

Each $5,000 Native American Library Services Basic Grant supports general operations and core library services. Applicants also have the opportunity to apply for an additional $1,000 supplement that can be used for staff development and/or professional assessments of library services. This year library service in 176 tribal communities and Native villages will benefit from the Education/Assessment supplement, 117 more than last year.

“Today’s grants provide opportunities for improved library services to a very important but often underserved part of the nation’s community of library users,” said Dr. Robert S. Martin, Director of the Institute. “The Institute’s Native American Library Services Grant programs are designed to help indigenous communities overcome many challenges. The grants will not only strengthen core library services and lifelong learning, but will also help preserve Native languages and lifeways.”

Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages and corporations are eligible to apply for the Institute’s Native American Library Services grant programs. In addition to the Basic grant, the Institute also administers the Native American Library Services Enhancement grant program. Enhancement grant recipients may receive up to $150,000. Those awards will be announced mid-September.