The National Leadership Grant

A National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal funding agency in Washington DC, was awarded to the Arizona State Museum and the Arizona State Library under the category of library-museum collaborations. This grant builds on a highly successful National Leadership Grant previously awarded to the Arizona State Museum, the Arizona State Library, and a consortium of four western state library agencies.

The two year grant has three major activities: Model Projects of Collaboration, an updated national directory of tribal libraries, archives and museums, and a national conference of tribal libraries, archives and museums.

Model Projects of Collaboration: Using models from the previous National Leadership grant, three regional projects that promote communication, the sharing of resources and collaboration will be designed, implemented and documented. Two of the model projects have been completed. The results of the regional projects will be highlighted at the national conference. The following participants have been identified based on an expressed interest by the local tribal community or the state agency.

These links open in a new window:

The Akwesasne Museum and Library (Mohawk Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy)
Northern New York Library Network

Tamastslikt Cultural Institute (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation)
Oregon State Library

Colorado River Indian Tribes Library and Archives
Arizona State Library

National directory: An updated version of the participant directory from the national conference of 2002 will increase capacity for collaboration among tribal and non-tribal libraries, archives and museums. The directory will be disseminated to state libraries, museum associations, archivist organizations and tribal cultural programs.

National conference: The national conference will be held May 24-27, 2005 in Mesa, Arizona. The conference sessions will be held at the Mesa Centennial Center and at the Phoenix Marriott Mesa Hotel and Conference Center. The conference continues the theme of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums: Preserving Our Language, Memory and Lifeways.

In the News:
May 12, 2004 - Arizona State Museum: Two Year Grant Will Support Tribal Library Project
May 17, 2004 - Tucson Citizen: Museums Will Help Tribal Libraries
June 7, 2004 - Watertown Daily Times: Access to Mokawk Records Will Improve with Project