Native American Studies Guide

In the Fall of 2016 I was approached by two of the subject librarians at Ellis Library to help in creating a subject guide for research into Native Americans and Native American Studies. This turned out to to be very prescient as faculty at the University were working to create a Native Studies minor. This section will detail my work with the subject librarians and faculty on this guide and the problems faced therein. 

Conception and Needs

As stated above, I began this project after being approached by two of the subject librarians, Anne Barker, the English Language and Literature librarian, and Rachel Brekhus, the Social Sciences librarian. I was approached given my interest in Native American Studies as well as my unique experience after being the president of the Native American Student Organization on campus.

We began the process for the guide by assessing the subject areas that would need sections in the guide as well as the goals for the guide. Eventually it was decided that along with their subject areas which included history, literature, and various social sciences, we would also include information on art, law, government documents, the original indigenous nations of Missouri, as well as on campus resources and current news within the indigenous community. 

Creation

The actual creation of the guide took place throughout the Spring 2017 semester and involved a lot of research into the history of the indigenous nations of Missouri as well as other groups that ceded land in what is now Missouri's borders.

Along with this research, research into the current print collection was required to identify appropriate books for each subject area. Finally research into outside resources, especially in terms of primary sources, was needed in order to supplement the libraries resources

Final Product

The final guide includes sections for recommended keywords for search terms as well as recommended Library of Congress Subject Headings in each subject area; each subject area also includes sections for recommended books from both a native and non-native perspective and recommended online resources and databases.