Libraries and Society. A Pan-Mediterranean Perspective, Libraries and Society. A Pan-Mediterranean Perspective

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From "We Shall Remain" to "Operation Teen Book Drop": New National Indigenous Library Services Initiatives

Loriene Roy

Last modified: 2009-10-29

Abstract


Two recent or ongoing national library events in the United States are focused on library services with indigenous populations and serve as examples of developing library services for cultural communities. In April 2009, "We Shall Remain," aired nationally on the U.S. Public Broadcasting Service. A National Library Initiative provided public libraries with event kits to develop public programming around the television series. A .pdf version of the kit is available at http://www.pbs.org/weshallremain/libraries. The kit describes how to organize culturally responsive programs such as open-microphone events featuring family stories, local oral history initiatives, book discussions, film festivals, speaker's series, book displays, and art contests. Over 120 libraries in the United States hosted public programs during the We Shall Remain airing. The second portion of the presentation will present plans for Operation Teen Book Drop (TBD) 2010. This will involve delivering a free book to teens attending tribal or Native schools across the United States. In past years, 8,000 young adult novels, audiobooks, and graphic novels donated by 18 publishers were collected and distributed by Readergirlz, Guys Lit Wire, and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). For 2010, we will join efforts and drop 10,000 new adult books, donated by publishers, into the hands of teens attending 30 tribal or Native schools.

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