ST. PAUL — The Little Free Library nonprofit organization announced the launch of its Indigenous Library Program, which grants Little Free Library boxes and books where needed most in Indigenous communities and on tribal lands in the U.S and Canada.
Working with Indigenous community leaders, the organization provides book-sharing boxes to locations where book access is key to improving literacy.
The initiative is led by Little Free Library program manager Talia Miracle (Ho-Chunk tribe of Winnebago), and supported by an advisory group including Valarie Janis of the Lakota College Woksape Tipi Library (Bay Mills Anishinaabe), board member Margaret Wood (Navajo and Oklahoma Seminole), and others who belong to or serve Indigenous communities.
"Little Free Library book-sharing boxes on Indigenous land in the U.S. and Canada can be significant to enhancing the education of Indigenous students and residents," Wood stated in a news release. "Indigenous reserves and reservations are huge 'book deserts.' ... Having access to books year 'round will be a game changer for residents of Indigenous lands."
The Little Free Libraries and books are granted through an application process, with priority given to those with long-term ties to Indigenous communities. Although the organization has granted libraries to Indigenous communities in the past, this program launch initiates an expanded commitment to making Little Free Libraries available in high-need locations serving Indigenous people, the release stated.
"We are aiding in literacy efforts within our communities one book at a time," said Janis, who stewards 11 Little Free Library boxes throughout the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Reading Native voices
Studies show book access is vital to improving literacy, and reading culturally relevant books can be equally important. The Indigenous Library Program grant packages come with two starter sets of books, one with 25 titles specifically focused on the Indigenous experience.
"Story and storytelling have always been honored and celebrated by the Indigenous peoples of this continent, but only now are our children and teens seeing young heroes like themselves respectfully reflected in books," stated author Cynthia Leitich Smith, curator of the Heartdrum imprint at HarperCollins Children's Books.
"We couldn't be more delighted that Little Free Library is welcoming our kids into the world of readers by making available an excellent array of resonant, page-turning titles to be shared with Native families and communities."
Little Free Libraries’ Miracle invited everyone to participate in the Indigenous Library Program launch.
"Together we can create much-needed book access in Indigenous communities and celebrate books about the Indigenous experience,” she stated.
There are more than 160,000 registered Little Free Libraries worldwide in all 50 states and 120 countries.
