Issues

What challenges do we need to address when building unique collections?

Titles out of Print

"Indigenous knowledge and perspectives typically reside outside the publishing mainstream–and often outside of print traditions altogether–that are at the core of archival, library and other institutional collections." (Hurley, 2017)

Big Questions to Ask:

How will institutions deal with materials in ways that safeguard the interests of Indigenous peoples?

What can be relied upon to inform best practice in this area?

Will accepted practice deal satisfactorily with materials already in the public domain but which have contested Indigenous intellectual property interests?

How will works whose copyright holders cannot be located (orphan works) be dealt with?

What will inform consistent and fair processes when copyright expires and traditional knowledge information comes into the public domain?

How will diverse or conflicting views within the Indigenous community be negotiated by institutions?

How can institutions be certain that they are meeting the expectations of Indigenous communities?”



POSSIBLE QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN SELECTING TITLES

THINGS YOU CAN DO:

  • Identify and purchase materials from small presses, non-profit publications, and tribal education departments

  • Create unique collections- oral histories? comic books?

  • Think about how your library supports or undermines oral traditions and ways of knowing

  • Think about how to provide access to materials while educating patrons about potentially sensitive materials

  • Find strategies you can use to promote materials to specific communities using Indigenous worldview/symbols/organization of information