TRIBALLY CONTROLLED COMMUNITY-COLLEGE LIBRARIES - A PARADIGM FOR SURVIVAL

This study reports on the results of a mail survey instrument administ ered to tribally controlled college libraries during 1993, just before the colleges were granted federal land-grant college status. Data obt ained From sixteen respondents,representing 66.66 percent of the twent y-four tribally controlled colleges, provided a baseline profile of th e fundamental characteristics of tribally controlled college libraries . The report focuses on the data most comparable to nontribal college libraries: budget, personnel, service population, advisory committees, collections, facilities, services, networking, and computer utilizati on. The portrait that emerged is of small academic libraries. However, these libraries also reflect the broad-based missions of their parent institutions, combining academic library functions with public librar y services and elements of tribal culture. Driven by unmet educational needs and the will to retain and strengthen tribal heritages and to s upport traditional values, these college libraries represent a paradig m for survival.