The Tribal College Librarians Institute (TCLI) started in the 1980s to address the needs of librarians at tribal colleges. It has since expanded from a three day statewide program to a five day nationwide program serving over 66 tribal colleges. The mission of TCLI is to provide professional development for tribal college librarians and those who serve tribal college students. TCLI receives funding from various sources including the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Paul Allen Foundation. The institute offers sessions on topics like cultural presentations, library services, education, and networking opportunities to address the unique needs of tribal college libraries.

1. The Tribal College LibrariansThe Tribal College Librarians
InstituteInstitute
Presented by James ThullPresented by James Thull

2. OriginOrigin
TCLI started as a program to serve the needs of Montana tribalTCLI started as a program to serve the needs of Montana tribal
colleges. A reference librarian in the 1980’s saw the needs andcolleges. A reference librarian in the 1980’s saw the needs and
challenges that tribal colleges librarians faced. When she waschallenges that tribal colleges librarians faced. When she was
approached by Salish-Kootenai college in the 1990’s with aapproached by Salish-Kootenai college in the 1990’s with a
request for professional development, that’s when TCLIrequest for professional development, that’s when TCLI
began.began.

3. ExpansionExpansion
TCLI has grown from a statewide three day institute to aTCLI has grown from a statewide three day institute to a
nationwide five day program and has served representativesnationwide five day program and has served representatives
from over 66 tribal colleges.from over 66 tribal colleges.

4. MissionMission
The mission of TCLI is to provide needed professionalThe mission of TCLI is to provide needed professional
development skills to tribal college librarians and those whodevelopment skills to tribal college librarians and those who
serve tribal college students.serve tribal college students.

5. NeedNeed
American Indian reservation communities are some of theAmerican Indian reservation communities are some of the
poorest and least developed communities in the United States.poorest and least developed communities in the United States.
American Indians, living both on and off reservations, rank farAmerican Indians, living both on and off reservations, rank far
below the overall United States average in access tobelow the overall United States average in access to
telephones, computers and the Internet.telephones, computers and the Internet.

6. Indigenous PopulationsIndigenous Populations
A series of reports issued by the United States DepartmentA series of reports issued by the United States Department
of Commerce in 2000 stated that American Indians areof Commerce in 2000 stated that American Indians are
more likely than any other race or ethnicity in the Unitedmore likely than any other race or ethnicity in the United
States to access the Internet from community centers,States to access the Internet from community centers,
schools and libraries.schools and libraries.

7. Tribal CollegesTribal Colleges
• Funded primarily with Federal dollarsFunded primarily with Federal dollars
• Lower wages paid to faculty and staffLower wages paid to faculty and staff
• On average 30% of faculty are Native Americans compared toOn average 30% of faculty are Native Americans compared to
1% at non-tribal schools1% at non-tribal schools
• All under 40 years old and most under 25All under 40 years old and most under 25
• Serve a tribal population of over 2,500,000Serve a tribal population of over 2,500,000
• Currently enroll 30,000 plus students from 250 FederallyCurrently enroll 30,000 plus students from 250 Federally
recognized tribesrecognized tribes

8. Tribal LibrariesTribal Libraries
• Like the colleges Tribal College Libraries all are youngLike the colleges Tribal College Libraries all are young
• Serve a primarily minority community with unique needsServe a primarily minority community with unique needs
• Are under-fundedAre under-funded
• In general small libraries with small staffsIn general small libraries with small staffs

9. Tribal LibrariansTribal Librarians
•Only about 50% of tribal college librarians haveOnly about 50% of tribal college librarians have
professional degrees in library science.professional degrees in library science.
•The remote nature of tribal college libraries leads toThe remote nature of tribal college libraries leads to
fewer opportunities for networking and professionalfewer opportunities for networking and professional
development.development.

10. Student Body ServedStudent Body Served
• Overall 64% female and 31.5 years oldOverall 64% female and 31.5 years old
• Unemployment rates on reservations average 49 percent andUnemployment rates on reservations average 49 percent and
poverty rates average 25.7 percentpoverty rates average 25.7 percent
• All have a greater than 70% Native American student bodyAll have a greater than 70% Native American student body
compared to 1% nationallycompared to 1% nationally
• Most qualify for Federal Pell Grants and receive little, if any,Most qualify for Federal Pell Grants and receive little, if any,
support from statessupport from states

11. FundingFunding
Funding has been received from Ebsco, MSU-Center for NativeFunding has been received from Ebsco, MSU-Center for Native
American Studies, MSU Libraries, National ScienceAmerican Studies, MSU Libraries, National Science
Foundation, Department of Education, Institute of MuseumFoundation, Department of Education, Institute of Museum
and Library Services, The Paul G Allen Foundation and theand Library Services, The Paul G Allen Foundation and the
National Agricultural Library which has provided the mostNational Agricultural Library which has provided the most
consistent funding.consistent funding.

12. Institute of Museum and LibraryInstitute of Museum and Library
ServicesServices
$242,000 in funding has been received from the Institute of$242,000 in funding has been received from the Institute of
Museum and Library Services to fund TCLI for the yearsMuseum and Library Services to fund TCLI for the years
2010-2012.2010-2012.

13. Paul Allen FoundationPaul Allen Foundation
The Paul Allen Foundation has awarded $20,000 to TCLI toThe Paul Allen Foundation has awarded $20,000 to TCLI to
increase participation from tribal libraries in the U.S. Pacificincrease participation from tribal libraries in the U.S. Pacific
Northwest at the 2010 institute.Northwest at the 2010 institute.

14. SessionsSessions
The bulk of the sessions at TCLI are aimedThe bulk of the sessions at TCLI are aimed
at providing both professionalat providing both professional
development and networkingdevelopment and networking
opportunities.opportunities.

15. CulturalCultural
Cultural presentations have included topics such as Ethno-botanyCultural presentations have included topics such as Ethno-botany
and the Navajo code talkers of WWII.and the Navajo code talkers of WWII.

16. Participant PresentersParticipant Presenters
Participants present often and offer unique internal viewpointsParticipants present often and offer unique internal viewpoints
that non-tribal librarians cannot.that non-tribal librarians cannot.

17. Selected PresentersSelected Presenters
Presenters have included Dr. Loriene Roy who attended andPresenters have included Dr. Loriene Roy who attended and
presented at TCLI while serving as the first Native Americanpresented at TCLI while serving as the first Native American
president of the American Library Association.president of the American Library Association.

18. CommentsComments
The great benefit to me is the networking. Other libraries in theThe great benefit to me is the networking. Other libraries in the
same situations as we are. The friendship and closeness thatsame situations as we are. The friendship and closeness that
we have with each other is a wonderful addition to awe have with each other is a wonderful addition to a
professional group.professional group.
The digitization programs that we have had have given me ideasThe digitization programs that we have had have given me ideas
for grant proposals. Information literacy is a hot topic on anyfor grant proposals. Information literacy is a hot topic on any
college level campus. It is included in the ACRL criteria and Icollege level campus. It is included in the ACRL criteria and I
appreciate all the information we have accumulated throughappreciate all the information we have accumulated through
TCLI.TCLI.

19. TCLI 2010 Selected SessionsTCLI 2010 Selected Sessions
• Cultural -Cultural - Henry Real Bird, Montana Poet Laureate, will giveHenry Real Bird, Montana Poet Laureate, will give
a talk about his poetry and read some of his works to thea talk about his poetry and read some of his works to the
group.group.
• Library ServicesLibrary Services - Susan Gehr, Tribal Language Archivist,- Susan Gehr, Tribal Language Archivist,
will provide a session on the preservation of Native Americanwill provide a session on the preservation of Native American
languages in digital archives. Susan has developed alanguages in digital archives. Susan has developed a
repository for her tribe and has worked with several otherrepository for her tribe and has worked with several other
tribes in the Northern California area.tribes in the Northern California area.
• EducationEducation - Library School Reflections -- Dr. Loriene Roy,- Library School Reflections -- Dr. Loriene Roy,
former American Library Association president, and UTformer American Library Association president, and UT
Austin Native library science students will provide a sessionAustin Native library science students will provide a session
reflecting on the importance of Native Americans in libraryreflecting on the importance of Native Americans in library
science programs.science programs.

20. For More InformationFor More Information
Contact Mary Anne HansenContact Mary Anne Hansen
((mhansenmhansen@montana.edu) or James Thull@montana.edu) or James Thull
(jjthull@montana.edu)(jjthull@montana.edu)