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The 2000 British Columbia Library Conference
Celebrating Excellence
Kelowna, British Columbia May 25 - 28, 2000
Presented by:
Albert Library Branch Head - Wendy Sinclair
Albert Community Library Committee Member - Darren Muir
1401 Robinson Street,
Regina, Saskatchewan
Canada S4T 2N7
Phone: 306- 777-6077
Fax: 306-777-6223
Introductions
Canada has an Aboriginal population of 642,414, almost one-sixth of
whom live in the province of Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan has the largest
ratio of Aboriginal to non-aboriginal people in the country. It is
estimated that ten years from now, 45% of Saskatchewan's population
will be of Aboriginal ancestry, including both First Nations and Metis
bloodlines. Over the last five years, Saskatchewan's Aboriginal population
increased 33%, while the non-Aboriginal population only grew 6%. There
are 72 First Nation Bands in Saskatchewan. In Canada, there are many
terms used when referring to Aboriginal people, such as, Indian, Native,
First Nation, status, non-status, Aboriginal, Indigenous, and Metis.
I had consulted an Aboriginal leader on which word is politically
correct; he recommended the term Aboriginal or Indigenous. (I believe
the term Indigenous is used more often in international matters)
History of Albert Library
Albert Library has been serving Regina's inner city community since
1913. In 1979, a report written for the Regina Public Library Board
recommended reducing the hours of service because circulation levels
did not meet library standards for a branch. Community representatives
argued that the reason the branch was not being used to its full potential
was because it did not meet the needs of the community it served.
A First Nations community member stated that she would like to see
Aboriginal art work on the walls, library staff to smile at her and
to make her feel welcome at the library, and perhaps, even a cup of
tea. There was a series of negotiations between the community, represented
by the North Central Community Society and the Regina Public Library,
represented by then Chief Librarian Ron Yeo. The objective was to
find a resolution satisfactory to both the community and the library
board. The outcome was a formal agreement between the North Central
Community Society and the Regina Public Library Board establishing
a community advisory committee for Albert Library. The agreement gave
the community an advisory role in the areas of staffing, programming,
and collection development. The community library committee was to
bring the needs of the community to the branch staff, thus helping
to define the services the library provided. This agreement is renewed
on an annual basis. The community library committee meets at least
ten times annually in order to fulfill the responsibilities set out
in the agreement. Circulation and general library usage have increased
steadily since the community was given a definitive voice in the operation
of the Albert Branch.
The Albert Library Committee
Membership on the Albert Library Committee is open to anyone living
or working in the North Central area of Regina. The library committee
establishes the collections policy, participates in interviewing for
staff hiring, and influences programming. As a result of the library
committee's independence from the library system's administration and
board, the Albert Library Committee has been able to go to outside
funding agencies for support of a number of programs and services over
the years. Included in these efforts are:
- In 1995, the Albert Library Committee funded and hosted the
first Canadian meeting of inner city library patrons and staff.
The library committee secured funding for travel, accommodations
& meals for the participants. The conference brought inner city
library patrons and staff together to discuss the past, present
and future of library services to the dynamic communities of Canada's
inner city urban landscape. The conference was an unqualified success.
Delegates from diverse communities quickly recognized many common
patterns about the library services they provided in their community.
A second gathering will build on the success and lessons learned
from the first gathering. The proposed conference will be co-sponsored
by Halifax's North Branch Women's Group and the Albert Library Committee
to take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- The library committee obtained funding for various culturally-based
programs. For instance, in 1994, Albert Library received a grant
of $10,000 for Aboriginal content programming. Cree classes, Pow
Wow dancing, beadwork, cultural awareness, and storytelling were
some of the programs offered at the library. The highlight of the
year was a field trip to a First Nations heritage park called, Wanuskewin,
for inner city children, youth and their parents. Circulation statistics
greatly increased during this period.
- With the committee's recommendation, gallery space for artists
to exhibit their work was established. The branch hosts an annual
art exhibition for the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College's Indian
Fine Arts Department. The gallery space provides an opportunity
for students to promote their work and with the potential to sell
their art as well. Albert Library also has Aboriginal art work painted
on its exterior walls, created by students of the Saskatchewan Indian
Federated College.
- The library committee received a grant to host The Asokhan Storyteller
in Residence Project for one year with a First Nations traditional
teacher as the resource person. This project integrated storytelling
into the library's regular programming; worked with other storytellers
from the community; taught young people First Nations' oral history
interviewing and collection methods; published material; invited
neighborhood schools to participate; and passed along storytelling
skills and listening skills to the younger generation. The storyteller-in-residence
project also provided an opportunity for members of the community
to participate in three day trips to significant First Nations reserves.
Included in these day trips, participants were taught various First
Nations protocols, i.e. how to pick Sweetgrass.
- In 1998, the library committee established a communication centre
with free computer access to the community. The computer lab consists
of seven new personal computers with Internet connections and one
coloured printer. Participants can learn computer skills, typing,
word-processing, surf the Internet, play computer games, or send
email. There is a paid monitor in the computer lab at all times
to provide assistance. One of the library committee's goals is it
to bridge the technology gap between those who have computer access
and those who do not. Youth are taught computer skills or shown
'cool' web sites 10 - 15 minutes prior to each computer lab sessions.
(two youth, who only had access to computers at their school and
in this lab, have developed their own web pages) Workshops that
were offered for adults have included: word-processing, resumes,
Windows 95, typing skills, and how to surf the Internet.
- The library committee raised enough funds to send three library
committee members and the Branch Head to present a paper at the
international conference on "Library Services to Indigenous Peoples"
in Tromso Norway, in August 1998.
- The library committee also fund-raised to send one library committee
member and the Branch Head to present a paper at the International
Indigenous Librarians' Forum in Auckland, New Zealand in November
1999. In addition, the library committee produced a video on the
branch, the community it serves, and the library committee. The
video was produced to be used in the presentation at this forum.
The Community
The Albert Branch Library serves the Regina community called North
Central. The population in this part of the city is about 10,500,
(1996) with one third of the population being of Aboriginal ancestry
- First Nations, Metis and non status. The Aboriginal population continues
to increase rapidly, as families move from rural areas to the city.
Ninety percent of Albert Library's patrons are of Aboriginal ancestry.
There are pockets of poor housing, poverty, low literacy, youth and
seniors at risk. A segment of the population earns income outside
the formal marketplace. The largest age group in North Central is
between 25 - 29 years. The number of children between 0 - 4 years
of age is the second largest age group in the neighborhood. The majority
of the houses in the community were built before 1946, which may mean
poor housing which, in turn, may explain the high transient rate.
Albert Library
The staff includes the Albert Branch Head, one full time Library Assistant,
one part time Library Assistant, two part time Public Services Clerks,
and one part time Page. The Page position, when not filled internally,
is posted at the local high school, Scott Collegiate. Albert prefers
to hire community people for staff and for program resource people.
Such people usually have a better understanding and knowledge of the
North Central community and of Aboriginal people. On all of the Albert
Branch Library's job descriptions, one of the required qualifications
listed is "knowledge of native culture and language".
From my experience, a native person approaches another native person
differently; than with a non-aboriginal person. A native person will
often ask for my name (wants to know last name) and where I am from
(which band I belongs to) to identify my family roots).
The Branch Head is directed to attend and participate in organizations
based in the North Central community and report monthly activities
to the library committee. For example, the Branch Head is a member
of the Board of the Street Culture Kidz Project, thus enabling her
to promote Albert Library programming and encourage use of library
resources. Being involved in the community first-hand, with others
who are working in the neighborhood, and with community residents,
has enhanced the work of the library in its day-to-day operations.
Meeting and working with the library staff outside the library building
has reduced the "institutional" view of the library in the community.
The best way to understand any community is to become a part of
that community. My staff and I keep our fingers on the pulse of the
neighborhood by attending meetings and socializing with the patrons.
The concerns of the community are the concerns of the library staff
because most of them live in the community the branch serves. In addition,
staff are given tours of community agencies, so that they are knowledgeable
about groups in the area and who they serve. This keeps the staff
informed about the different resources available in the community
and to network in order to better serve the community's individuals.
I chair a provincial committee that deals with library services
for the Aboriginal peoples of Saskatchewan. This committee hosted
a number of conferences and workshops over the past few years. For
instance, in 1996 when the federal government purchased Pentium computers
for all the band schools in Canada, this provincial committee offered
Internet training to the band school/library staff in Saskatchewan.
Libraries and the Community
(Reflections of Chief Lafond at the Library Services for Saskatchewan's
Aboriginal Peoples Conference in Saskatoon, November 1992)
- Elders are know for their knowledge to educate. They become
walking, talking libraries and carriers of information about the
culture. Knowledge carriers include herbalists, medicine people,
pipe carriers, people who carry medicine bundles or sacred scrolls,
and keepers of winter counts. The problem is to redefine libraries
to make this knowledge accessible to the public.
- Libraries have the potential to empower people. They can be
places for the intentional planned use of resources, and for groups
of people in the community doing planning with respect, critical
reflection, and caring. Libraries can provide information so people
can learn to learn; so that they will know about what 's happening
in the government, etc.; and so that they will begin asking questions.
- The community library should become an empowering tool. It should
have a visible collection and serve as a place to keep and protect
the history of the people. A strong, well functioning library can
serve as a cultural revitalization centre as well as a centre for
language retention. The library must become a place where Elders
will feel safe and comfortable so that they will be able to act
as the living libraries that they are and pass on cultural information
to the community.
Because the Albert Library serves a community with a high Aboriginal
population, Aboriginal protocol workshops are held for staff. These
workshops create awareness and an understanding of the First Nations
traditions and culture.
Collection
Albert provides a collection of adult and juvenile items focusing
on Aboriginal peoples. When the community committee started working
with the Albert Library in 1980, the Regina Public Library's collection
of duplicate Aboriginal titles was transferred to Albert, thus enhancing
Albert's existing collection. Although some of the Aboriginal titles
are duplicated in other locations of the library system, it is only
at Albert that they are identified as an Aboriginal collection. The
Aboriginal collection includes fiction and non-fiction titles, cassettes,
periodicals, vertical files, Cree language material, and a number
of National Film Board videos. The Cree language material consists
of workbooks, cassettes, dictionaries, flashcards and children's picture
books. This material is suitable in content and format for all age
groups, for there are a lot of adult patrons who wish to learn or
re-learn their ancestral language. Albert's extensive Aboriginal collection
has become a resource used by patrons across the city. Albert also
has a regular library collection which features current, high demand,
high interest materials in mostly a paperback format for both adult
and juvenile patrons. The collection budget is part of the annual
budgeting cycle.
Programming
Albert Library's main focus is to create programming that develops
knowledge and understanding of the diverse cultural groups in Regina,
while highlighting the Aboriginal community. Branch programs deal
with culture, traditions, and current issues. These include an annual
children's feast, beadwork classes, dreamcatcher programs, Cree language
classes, storytelling, pow wow dance classes, Aboriginal author readings,
incorporation of First Nation stories in the puppet shows at the branch,
classes on how to make Inuit moccasins, mitts and vests, and programs
on cultural awareness.
Albert concentrates on children's programming because of the large
number of children who visit the branch on a daily basis. Programming
that appeals to youth encourages this age group to become regular
library users, thus this may have the potential to instill the love
of books in children. The majority of the youth who participate in
the library programs are 6 - 14 years old.
The branch also offers regular pre-school storytime sessions to
the local child care centres, Aboriginal Headstart programs, and the
local elementary schools. Seven to eleven preschool sessions are offered
per week. The Library Assistants often have to turn down requests
for additional sessions due to scheduling difficulties.
The branch hosted a video project for ten students from the local
high school with a well know Aboriginal film producer, Alanis Obomsawin.
The students produced a short horror movie called 'Library 13'.
Albert Library has an Aboriginal Elder to consult with regarding
Aboriginal content programming, and to advise on the best protocol
for carrying out those programs.
Albert Library's Spiritual Colors
In honor of Albert's 80th anniversary in September, 1993, an Elder
presented the branch with four First Nations spiritual colors: Green,
representing summer and renewal; White, representing winter and purity;
Blue, representing spring, sky, water, wisdom, and knowledge; and
Orange, representing autumn and the branch being open in the evenings
after sunset.
An interesting comment by Chief Harry Lafond, from the Muskeg
Lake Band: Native people are beginning to forget about their past.
We need libraries to provide information about the past and present
of all aspects of Indian life, and to replace the lost custom of storytelling
and telling of exploits at the council fire, and so forth. The formal
school system may not teach the Native person what he needs to know
about himself; his treaty rights, his unique constitutional positions
in Canada, and his history. There is a movement among Native people
to become more aware of their past, their heritage and in the revival
of arts and crafts, dances, legends, and their languages. Libraries
are tools which Native people can use to help change their conditions
where desirable and to maintain and strengthen their cultural resources.
In Summary
The Albert Library provides a basic library service enhanced by an
in-depth Aboriginal collection, and culturally based programming.
The branch also provides a safe environment for neighborhood children
and youth.
The branch staff regularly liaise with community groups to network,
to keep in touch with what is happening in the community, to be a
partner in community development issues, and to promote library services.
Albert Library strives to remain an informational and cultural
resource that is an essential asset to the community. The branch's
focus is to have more parent and caregivers become involved in the
library. Staff feel that once a person visits the branch, s/he will
notice that Albert Library is much more than a book depository. It
is a vital part of the community it serves.
Mr. Sandy Cameron, who was a member of the Albert Library Committee
from its inception once stated "Albert Library is not special, we
are a model of how any branch library should operate".
In closing, it is the community who gives us our direction on how
this library will best serve it, and this is what the Albert Branch
strives to accomplish.
What libraries can do to encourage First Nation peoples to use libraries:
- Network as much as possible in the community you
serve.
- Publicize library services and programming - Be
visible
Suggestions on where to network to promote
library services:
- parent council meetings
- school and community newsletters
- community associations and local agencies
- Friendship Centres
- Band offices
- schools and post secondary centres
- offer programming to local child care centres and
schools.
- Establish a community committee to determine what
they need and want. Focus on unique solutions that respond
to the community's view of what will work.
- Build your library collection to focus on First Nations
content, i.e. art, history, periodicals, language, legends,
crafts (beading), and music.
- Provide programming with First Nations content.
- Hire First Nations as resource people for programming
and to conduct protocol workshops.
- Consult with Elders. Ask permission first to speak
with him/her. Remember to offer tobacco.
- Consult with Tribal Councils or Band representatives
for input.
- Hire First Nation people to work in the library.
- Provide cross cultural awareness training for library
workers.
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