Nicolet Library System (Nicolet), in coordination with Northern Waters Library Service, was awarded $190,569 in grant funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS250245OLS21) through the Wisconsin Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant program.
The negative economic and social impacts of the pandemic on tribal communities throughout Wisconsin were often greater than other communities experienced. Due to reduced revenues and increased safety concerns, libraries, along with other social services, were drastically cut or eliminated. This left tribal members with nowhere to turn when seeking services or resources. This grant project addressed the need of linking tribal members to a wide variety of services through collaborative efforts between the four tribal public libraries in Wisconsin and their local community partners.
The grant provided funding to engage a Community Partnership Coordinator to facilitate the establishment of Outreach Programs at the four tribal libraries. The program created a blueprint for the libraries to use, now and in the future, to leverage community partnerships to reduce barriers for tribal members needing assistance in the areas of workforce development, education, healthcare, and social services.
The grant also provided funding for the libraries to create private, confidential meeting rooms outfitted with the required technology for remote consultations. Tribal and community members are now able to schedule remote consultations in a private setting for telehealth appointments, job interviews, Job Center consultations, court hearings, online classes, tutoring, and more. Furthermore, with the addition of equipment and technology such as indoor and outdoor device charging stations and outdoor book drops, the libraries are able to continue providing services to their communities regardless of future pandemics, crises, or closures.
The negative economic and social impacts of the pandemic on tribal communities throughout Wisconsin were often greater than other communities experienced. Due to reduced revenues and increased safety concerns, libraries, along with other social services, were drastically cut or eliminated. This left tribal members with nowhere to turn when seeking services or resources. This grant project addressed the need of linking tribal members to a wide variety of services through collaborative efforts between the four tribal public libraries in Wisconsin and their local community partners.
The grant provided funding to engage a Community Partnership Coordinator to facilitate the establishment of Outreach Programs at the four tribal libraries. The program created a blueprint for the libraries to use, now and in the future, to leverage community partnerships to reduce barriers for tribal members needing assistance in the areas of workforce development, education, healthcare, and social services.
The grant also provided funding for the libraries to create private, confidential meeting rooms outfitted with the required technology for remote consultations. Tribal and community members are now able to schedule remote consultations in a private setting for telehealth appointments, job interviews, Job Center consultations, court hearings, online classes, tutoring, and more. Furthermore, with the addition of equipment and technology such as indoor and outdoor device charging stations and outdoor book drops, the libraries are able to continue providing services to their communities regardless of future pandemics, crises, or closures.
Lac du Flambeau Public Library
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The Ben Guthrie Lac Du Flambeau Public Library used grant funding to remodel their conference room within the library to make it a confidential meeting space community members can use for in-person or virtual meetings. They were also able to add items such as a solar powered device charging station and an outdoor book drop to be able to provide services outside of normal business hours. The meeting room is currently being used for Board meetings, Social Security Insurance (SSI) Counseling, Zoom meetings, and book clubs. The library director, Jeanne Wolfe, is currently working with the Clerk of Courts to utilize the space for virtual court appearances. This service for tribal and community members would be invaluable as many fail to make court appearances due to lack of transportation to the distant Circuit Court. Ms. Wolfe hopes that in the future, with additional funding, the library could offer additional support to the community in areas of workforce development, mental and physical health, and navigating the legal system, to name a few. Ms. Wolfe is proud of the work she has done to increase awareness of library services and usage of the library during her five-year tenure. She looks forward to continuing to provide her community with dependable, high-quality services.
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Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University Community Library
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Once the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University Community Library fully reopened after being closed due to the pandemic, usage of the library has been slow to recover. Library Director Caryl Pfaff believes this project will help get the word out about all the library has to offer to not only students, but to tribal members and the surrounding community. For example, Sawyer County is developing a public health resource manual and the library meeting space has been included as a place to hold telehealth appointments. While the University supplied equipment and technology for the meeting rooms, the library used the grant funding to replace fifteen outdated technology in both the adult and children's areas. Additionally, the library is sharing a digital display with the museum to display historical and tribal resources and watch oral history recordings. Ms. Pfaff is also happy to report that the Native/English Language classes for 5th through 8th graders have resumed in the library's meeting space. One of the highlights of the grant program for Ms. Pfaff was the reintroduction and connection of the four tribal public libraries in Wisconsin. Several decades ago, they had a consortium of tribal public libraries that met regularly. However, the connections faded. Ms. Pfaff is eager to keep this network going, understanding how important and valuable these connections are for support and collaboration.
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Oneida Community Library
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The Oneida Community Library used the grant to develop outreach and marketing materials to educate the community about the vast array of services they provide to tribal members and the surrounding community. From conducting outreach at a local farmer's market to connecting with tribal employees and departments, the library was excited to take part in the grant program to increase awareness of all the library has to offer. The former library director and the director during the grant period, Kim Cackowski, believes the library is a place the community comes to heal after job loss, economic strain, and isolation, and the new equipment will serve the community well. The new norm of conducting daily business in a virtual setting is a requirement and the community now has a reliable space to use to connect with employers, doctors, and educators, or to connect with family near and far. Those who have had an opportunity to use the new spaces and technology love the upgrades and are thankful for the additional services the library can now provide.
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As Ms. Cackowski envisioned, and the current director, Eliza Skenandore will complete, the project will be finished up by installing the outdoor, solar-powered charging station next to the library along Duck Creek and the Oneida Nature trail. The library will provide Wi-Fi access, and community members will be able to work on their devices at the charging station and table anytime of the day or night. They hope this will remove the stigma of “stealing Wi-Fi” rather than simply using an available library resource.
The library also installed a new digital monitor in the library which provides a daily slideshow of information and events going on within the tribal community. This service will further the library's position as a reliable information hub for the community. They are also working with other tribal departments to use the indoor charging station at tribal and community events in the area. The use of the charging stations will be a great marketing and outreach tool for the library for years to come.
Just like Ms. Pfaff, Ms. Cackowski saw the connections she made with the other tribal public library directors as the biggest positive of the grant program. Given the great distances from each other, the directors have been siloed for many years. These connections will be invaluable in the future for support and collaboration.
The library also installed a new digital monitor in the library which provides a daily slideshow of information and events going on within the tribal community. This service will further the library's position as a reliable information hub for the community. They are also working with other tribal departments to use the indoor charging station at tribal and community events in the area. The use of the charging stations will be a great marketing and outreach tool for the library for years to come.
Just like Ms. Pfaff, Ms. Cackowski saw the connections she made with the other tribal public library directors as the biggest positive of the grant program. Given the great distances from each other, the directors have been siloed for many years. These connections will be invaluable in the future for support and collaboration.
Green Earth Branch of the Oneida Community Library
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The Green Earth Branch of the Oneida Community Library is a small space with large resources. The grant program provided the opportunity to install a private meeting space in the branch. Before the grant funding, there were no additional options to create a private space in the building. The meeting space is the size of a phonebooth but provides tribal and community members with a quiet, private space to conduct virtual interviews. The space has been heavily used since its installation.
The Green Earth Branch serves the far west side of the Oneida Reservation and surrounding areas as a library, storm shelter, and community hub. Recent storms demonstrated how valuable the library is during a crisis. With widespread power outages, residents in this rural area were unable to access water, charge their phones, or receive status updates. However, the library provided residents with a safe space, charging stations, and clean water during and after the storms. Additionally, library staff went above and beyond to serve their community by going door to door to inform residents of the services they provide, including conducting welfare checks on homebound residents to ensure they were safe. |
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S. Verna Fowler Academic Library/Menominee Public Library
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The S. Verna Fowler Academic Library/Menominee Public Library utilized the grant funding to equip several study rooms with equipment for virtual consultations and library programming. The equipment and technology have created a flourish of virtual programming which is heavily used by tribal and community members. The library is also using the marketing plan created through the grant to reach out to various departments in the College of Menominee Nation, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, and other local non-affiliated organizations to collaborate and help each other meet a variety of community needs. Like the other directors, Interim Director Bethany Huse loved getting to know all the tribal library directors. Ms. Huse hopes to coordinate future collaborations between the College of Menominee Nation's Green Bay campus and the Oneida Community Library.
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Nicolet Library System
1595 Allouez Avenue, Suite 4, Green Bay, WI 54311 Email: [email protected] Phone: 920-448-4410 Fax: 920-448-4420 Facebook: @NicoletLibrarySystem |
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