Collection Development and Maintenance

Figure 1-4: Pinterest images came from Raymond Herbert

Library Collection Development and Maintenance for Native American Communities:

Community-Driven Collection Development Strategies: Prioritize active listening and community engagement to understand the specific information needs and cultural values of the local Native American community.(Proffitt, 2023)

• Develop a collection development policy that explicitly addresses the inclusion of Native American perspectives, languages, and knowledge systems.
• Establish ongoing communication with tribal leaders, cultural centers, and community members to ensure the collection remains relevant and responsive.

Diversity in Collections and Inclusive Subject Headings: Actively seek out and acquire materials by Native American authors, artists, filmmakers, and knowledge keepers, including both contemporary and historical works.(Proffitt, 2023)

• Utilize the "locally preferred subjects" feature in library discovery tools to re-map outdated or harmful subject headings with culturally sensitive and accurate terms.

• Recognize that standard subject authorities may contain language that harms marginalized communities and actively work to mitigate this harm through local adjustments.

• Ensure that materials are presented in a way that respects the cultural values of the Native American community.

Weeding and Cultural Sensitivity: Approach weeding with cultural sensitivity, recognizing that older materials may hold historical or cultural significance for Native American communities, even if they contain outdated language.(Proffitt, 2023)

• Consult with community members before weeding materials related to Native American history or culture to ensure that valuable resources are not discarded.

• Consider digitizing or archiving older materials to preserve them for future generations.

• When weeding, ensure that older materials that contain harmful stereotypes are removed from the collection.

Serving the Native American Community Through Library Discovery: Implement the "locally preferred subjects" feature to create a more inclusive and less harmful discovery experience for Native American patrons.(Proffitt, 2023)

• Provide training and support to library staff on how to use inclusive language and subject headings when assisting patrons.

• Participate in and contribute to communities of practice that share best practices for inclusive cataloging and collection development.

• Provide access to online resources that provide accurate information about the Native American community.

Addressing Harmful Descriptions: Understand that library descriptions can cause harm through outdated and offensive language.(Proffitt, 2023)

• Utilize tools that allow for rapid harm reduction in item descriptions.

• Work to change subject authorities that harm marginalized communities.

• Partner with other libraries to create a community of practice that shares inclusive terms.