FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2005

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

Native American Communities Receive $1.6 Million for Library Enhancements

Washington, DC—The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal funds for the nation's museums and libraries, awarded $1,604,000 today to 13 Native American tribal communities and Alaska Native villages to improve library services to their communities. The recipients will match the grants with an additional $657,483. For more information on the Enhancement Grant recipients, please see the list of awarded institutions.

"The thirteen recipients of this year’s Enhancement Grants have demonstrated great dedication to their Native American communities,” said Mary L. Chute, Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. “They’re doing innovative work to improve library holdings, provide essential computer access and training, establish new programming, and improve the lives of Native Americans.”

Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants support projects that enhance existing library services or implement new ones. Preference is given to projects that expand services for learning in a variety of formats; provide users with access to information and resources through electronic networks and linkages; develop partnerships with other agencies and community-based organizations; or target services to users of diverse backgrounds and to underserved populations.

Projects funded include, among others, the expansion of the highly successful Dragonfly Project, a collaboration of the Chilkoot Indian Association and Haines Borough Public Library that teaches young people the skills to mentor older community residents in technology; the enhancement of the Ft. Berthold (North Dakota) Community College’s collection on the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara nations; and a series of storytelling programs and training at the Makah Cultural and Research Center in Washington State.