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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2006)
Smoke Signals 3 Grand Ronde Tribal Library Is Expanding, Will Soon Be At Capacity The Tribal Library is growing in the size of its collection, the number of its programs and participation from the community. FEBRUARY 1, 2006 By Ron Karten Making paint out of rocks is one of the things you learn at the Tribal Library. In fact, there are a few selected paintings on paper at tached to the wall above the check out counter that were made as the result of a library outing planned to teach just this skill. On another wall of the library are kachina dolls made more than 30 years ago by Southwestern Tribes. These were contributed along with some 50-80 other items in 2002 by the David Marster fam ily, collectors themselves who wanted to repatriate items that belonged with Indians. Tribal member Willie Mercier started the library's video collection when he began buying DVDs to replace his videos. He donated more than 100 of the videos to the library's 400-plus collection. "It felt right to donate these to the Tribe for other Tribal members," said Willie. "I felt that it was going to a more worthy cause than if I had just dropped them off with Goodwill or the Salvation Army." Another regular donor to the li brary is Tribal Council member and former Librarian himself, Chris Mercier, who "donated most of the literature in the library," according to current Librarian and former Education Division Manager, Marion Mercier. He also contrib uted many of the classic videos in the library's collection, and all but two of the library's small (but grow ing) DVD collection. "I would like to see the Tribal li brary become the community li brary," said Chris Mercier. "Some books IH probably always keep (at home) but I'd rather have most of the books in circulation than have them on my shelves for my next tea party." Ronnie Peterson, a bookstore owner in Vancouver, Washington, who grew up in Grand Ronde and played ball with Tribal Elder Chips Tom, read about the library in Smoke Sig nals, and started contributing dupli cate books from his store to the Tribe. Tribal member Pam Warren also contributed quite a few books and her children donated all of their Walt Disney movies "a really cool contribution to the library," said Marion Mercier. And for those interested in Tribal publications, the library receives newspapers from all but two Or egon Tribes, the Burns-Paiute and the Cow Creeks. And the Tribal Public Information office passes along 11 other Tribal papers from across the country, though they are not yet well read by library patrons. "A few people will look at them," said Mercier. Morrie (Klamath) and Lois Jiminez donate six magazines monthly to the library, including Audabon, Con sumer Reports, Readers' Digest, AARP and National Wildlife. Morrie has been involved in Indian education for more than 30 years, and Lois has long been involved in library work, according to Mercier. "That's major to the library," she said. And, said Mercier, "There are FT LIBRARY HOURS Mon. - Wed.: 8 A.M. - 7:30 p.m. Thurs. & Fri.: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (closed Friday Noon - 1 p.m.) Saturday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. T ? .'. ... . . I 4 s. a 3 1 - : WW W&A Ill : I a i. . l -.-I It II I -i 4 . II: I i f !. '! I -WXWWK : Tribal member & Tribal Librarian Marion Mercier quite a few that give a handful of books or movies quite often." Between gifts and grants ear marked for new books (and grants last year enabled the library to make three purchases of 50-150 books each time), Mercier said that the library shelves are likely to be filled to capacity in the next year, which is a great success looked at one way but a troubling merchan dising picture, looked at another. Oregon with a complete new com puter system for patron use. The, money for these computers comes from the Gates Foundation. New programs have played a big part in the library's growing success. In addition to last year's Native Author's presentation, Mercier spon sored a Summer Reading Incentive Program. Every time a student fin ished a book, they got a prize, said Mercier. And that prize, often enough, Mercier sponsored a Summer Reading Incen tive Program. Every time a student finished a book, they got a prize, said Mercier. And that prize, often enough, was another book. Partici pants read 40 books during the program. "It's important to show the cover of a book to kids," said Mercier. "It's the pictures and color and illustra tions that make them want to pick that book up. "Even for young adults," she con tinued, "there's been more circula tion since showing the faces of the books on the top shelves. Having exhibits has helped, too." The library hosted 50 visitors for the Native Authors exhibit last year. "Many had no idea that we had these books," she said. Putting off for a moment the inevi table crunch that will come when the library shelves are full, the growth in library usage in the last year has been incredible. In 2004, said Mercier, 884 items were circu lated through the community. Last year, 3,025 were circulated. One of the drivers of library usage is the internet connection available to the public on library computers. The library staff has benefited by partici pating in State-funded library train ing, according to Mercier, while at the same time, the library has been con nected to the State Library's EBSCO database research system. And this month, the Oregon State Library will provide each of the Tribal libraries in was another book. Participants read 40 books during the program. Another program, Discover Native Oregon, included a field trip to find Native plants, and projects like turn ing rocks into paint. The program included a look at authentic designs found on rocks on the shores of the Columbia River, like the famous "She Who Watches" face. Partici pants used the paints they made to copy the old authentic designs. Tribal Elder and basket weaver Sam Henny took participants on a journey through ancient weaving techniques, teaching how to make little baskets and bags using hemp and wool and cotton. A poetry recital drew a small but intensely interested group and now the group meets regularly on the second Wednesday of each month. Participants can read their own or somebody else's poetry or just sit and listen. "The enthusiasm of those who were there was a sight to behold," said Mercier. Kids groups making use of the li brary also have expanded, said Mercier. Now, the library offers story time to groups of 3-4 year olds, 4-5 year olds, and the Chinook im mersion classes. Kindergartners get a story and also learn how to check books in and out. "They stand with me behind the counter," said Mercier, "and see how their books come up on the com puter screen." Tribal historian and Grand Ronde Elder June Olson pre sented at the library and so did Western Oregon University Pro fessor of EnglishWritingLinguis tics, Curtis Yehnert, who also is a Native storyteller. The library also has purchased cassette players with headphones so that book groups can all listen to the same story on tape before discussion opens. "I just want them to get inter ested in a book club," said Mercier. "We'll get there." At the same time, Mercier was busy last year working with Tribal lobby ist Justin Martin to get House Bill 2674 passed in the state legislature in 2004. The law included Tribal li braries among the rest of the librar ies in the state, allowing them to participate in inter-library loans and making them eligible for state grants. The Tribal library also has been re ceiving funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) since the early 1990s, said Mercier. IMLS offers non-competitive grants for Tribes, and made grants to the Tribal library three times in the 1990s. Later in the 1990s, it funded a part time staffer for the library, and in 2003-05, it provided the Tribal library with a grant for more new staff to help start some of the programming men tioned above. Beginning this month, however, the Tribe will become the primary funder of the library. This will help maintain continuity whatever hap pens with grants and gifts that sus tained the library in its early years, according to Mercier. "Down the road," said Mercier, "the hope is that we have a sepa rate facility for the library. As grand as this is, this shouldn't be the end."
