The little traverse BAY bands of odawa indians will use this community-centered implementation project to build its tribal library workforce and cultural comprehension

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians $188,170 under the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (CFDA 45.313) on September 1, 2026.

The recipient will build tribal library workforce capacity and cultural comprehension through a community-centered implementation project. The project creates a structured pathway to library and information work for youth and emerging professionals while strengthening the library's ability to serve the broader community. Work addresses the tribe's priority to preserve and carry forward Odawa knowledge, language, and lifeways that are in jeopardy of being lost. The tribal library currently operates as a community-centered learning space with stewardship responsibilities for culturally relevant materials and access to community knowledge; intentional workforce development supports these functions as the tribal population ages.

Performance runs from September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2028, with work performed in Harbor Springs, Michigan. The assistance type is a Project Grant. The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program supports recruitment, development, and retention of library and archives professionals to meet community information needs and builds workforce capacity for libraries and archives nationwide.

Rooted in community-identified priorities, the project responds to cultural realities facing the tribe, including the need to preserve and carry forward odawa knowledge, language, and lifeways that are in jeopardy of being lost. The library already serves as a community-centered learning space, and its work is not limited to traditional public functions. IT also involves stewardship of culturally relevant materials and access to community knowledge, which require intentional workforce development as the tribal population ages. This project creates a structured pathway to library and information work for youth and emerging professionals while strengthening the library's ability to serve the broader community.