Akwesasne Library Grant Project A Success

In early 2003, the Akwesasne Library was invited by the State Library of Arizona to participate in an IMLS National Leadership Grant called "Preserving Life Ways, Language and Culture." The question was, if you had a wish, what would it be?

Akwesasne Library Director Carol White answered if she had a wish, it would be to convert their paper information into a new searchable format that would also give it longevity. The proposal was to develop a working relationship between tribes and state and local agencies that had concerns in the areas of libraries, museums and archives. The IMLS National Leadership Grant was funded and included three tribal groups: two from Oregon and one from New York State, Akwesasne Library.

The opportunity to be part of a national leadership grant was approachable, but not as exciting as being told the grant was awarded and Ms. White would be flying to Arizona in January. The Arizona State Library was the sponsor in the IMLS National Leadership grant. Each of the groups included one tribal library or museum, and a state agency to collaboratively work on issues that may have concerns on preserving information on one’s culture, and life issues to disseminate information for future generations.

The original plan was to have a representative from the state library in Albany and the director of the Akwesasne Library attend a planning meeting set for January 2004 in Phoenix, Arizona. Ms. White attended the meeting and worked with Project Manager Susan Secakuku, along with Director Jane Kolbe, Division of Library Development, Arizona State Library, to develop a working plan to digitize the newspaper clippings on file at the Akwesasne Library. The initial idea was to gather old photos, language tapes and historical writings, and preserve them by new technology methods into a new useable format. Since the project included life ways, it seemed most appropriate for the Akwesasna Library to try and do their newspaper clippings into a project. The public use of the material was in high demand.

To comply with the terms of the grant, the Library needed a partner, and with Northern New York Library Network doing workshops and other newspaper projects, the idea to ask them for advice was appropriate. By spring, the Library was working with NNYLN Director John Hammond and Systems Administrator Tom Blauvelt on what resources they had to offer the Library in this new-found venture.

The NNYLN had already purchased equipment to do digitization projects and had encountered many of the issues and adherences to such work. The Library explained what their idea was and Mr. Blauvelt did the work to make this idea a reality. He supported the Akwesasne Library with knowledge and suggestions on just about every point of the work.

The Akwesasne Library was awarded $7,500 for the project, which was used for equipment and salary for the document image scanner. After the equipment was purchased, Mr. Blauvelt provided on-site training to two Akwesasne Library staff members. As the work progressed, Ms. White realized in two months the work was over half-way finished and redirected the work to include not only the environmental issues, but the entirety of the newspaper clippings collection.

On November 2, 2004, the Akwesasne Library held a demo for a select group of individuals who were potential stakeholders in future projects. Ms. White noted the project so far is a success, and is a reality that its continuance will include the photographs and language for future access by all children. She said one other project that needs mentioning at this time is the efforts of the NNYLN to put the Indian Time newspaper on the Internet.

"We are very grateful to all the help, time and energy the staff from Northern New York Library Network has assisted with this project, and may the spring trip to Arizona conference be just as rewarding," Director White said.