2021-09-13 SPLAT Curiosity Report: Volume 9, Issue 6
Featured Story
Land Acknowledgements
The University of Idaho Library recently decided to place a land acknowledgement statement on the footer of our website. It only takes up a tiny bit of space, but I think it is such an important thing for us to have as part of our web presence. What is a land acknowledgement statement? It is a written statement that recognizes the indigenous people whose land you are on. There are many different ways they can be written and presented, but the University of Idaho’s statement for the Moscow campus, written by the Office of Tribal Relations, is:
UI Moscow is located on the homelands of the Nimiipu (Nez Perce). We extend gratitude to the indigenous people that call this place home, since time immemorial. UI recognizes that it is our academic responsibility to build relationships with the indigenous people to ensure integrity of tribal voices.
This statement is often read at university events, and I hear land acknowledgement statements more and more frequently during library webinars and conferences from librarians around the country. Does your library or town already have a land acknowledgement statement? Or would you perhaps need to write your own?
Writing and sharing a land acknowledgement statement can feel daunting, but it is a step forward in recognizing the presence, contributions, and past, present, and future importance of indigenous people. For more information on how to write your own land acknowledgement statement, The Native Governance Center has great resources. You can see whose land your library is built on using the My Tribal Area tools from the US Census or the Native Land website based in Canada (but it covers the whole world). It is important to check with your local tribes when writing a land acknowledgement statement and coming to the process with cultural humility.
At the end of the day, remember: Starting somewhere is better than not trying at all. We need to share in Indigenous peoples’ discomfort. They’ve been uncomfortable for a long time. Dr. Kate Beane (Flandreau Santee Dakota and Muskogee Creek) says, We have to try. Starting out with good intentions and a good heart is what matters most. — Native Governance Website
– Jessica Martinez
Editor’s Note: Does your library already have a land acknowledgement statement and is looking for next steps? The Native Governance Center has created a Beyond Land Acknowledgement Guide.
Fail Forward
We’ve all been there. You pour your heart into a program, and no one shows up. You try something new, and you fall on your face. Sound familiar? Fail Forward is the place to share your failures, and give you the opportunity to share what you learned from them. Did you promote your program in a different way after no one showed up? Maybe you took a new approach to the new thing you were excited about? Awesome! Share your story via our online form so others can learn, and realize that failure is often part of the process.
Failed, I have.
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Well, I’ve tried Star Wars online Break out rooms, and now an online Local Trivia Event for Library week. Both failed. I guess I am hoping someone else might have some ideas as to why. Email me! Struggling to go forward.
– Rasheil Stanger
Crush Corner
Is there a library you follow on social media who is always doing new and exciting things? How about a blog you follow that inspires you? What about a new idea, book, or resource that you want to share? Library Crush Corner is a place for those working in Idaho libraries to share what inspires them, and who or what they’re crushing on… in a professional sense. Share your story via our online form so we can publish it in a future issue!
Go Vinyl and Nutley
Nutley Public Library in New Jersey has an interesting collection – nostalgia that captured patrons to inspire this unique collection – vinyl records and turntables. Their popular vinyls include Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, and the Beatles, but also soundtracks like The Force Awakens and Frozen.
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I’m crushing on this library because of their love of and willingness to offer this vintage audio collection to the community. Check out Nutley’s Vinyl Record Collection
– Vanessa Thiele
SPLAT explores the ever-evolving library world and supports library folks as they adapt to meet the needs of their communities. Library folk throughout the state of Idaho volunteer to serve on the Special Projects Library Action Team (SPLAT). Learn more about SPLAT at splat.lili.org
SPLAT is brought to you by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and was made possible, in part, by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS-246156-OLS-20). The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.