By Robyn Gray (MLIS ’16):

Since graduating from Dalhousie’s MLIS program in 2016, Robyn Gray has been working in Elk Point, Alberta at the Northern Lights Library System. Each of Alberta’s “library systems” consists of a structure where they are accountable for several libraries in small, rural areas. Northern Lights is responsible for 47 different libraries (covering a total of 53 municipalities), and as a system, we are able to offer job training, IT support, and numerous physical and digital resources for each member library. While each library is independent with its own manager, staff, and operations, being part of a system allows for greater opportunities.

Recently, a grant was provided for Albertan library systems that are within the vicinity of First Nations Reserves and Metis Settlements (Alberta is the only province in which Metis people have a land base). While public libraries are meant to serve the needs of all peoples, some libraries have had limitations in how they meet the needs of Indigenous populations. Because of their status under federal jurisdiction instead of provincial legislation, there were higher library membership fees [1], and very few programs available to them that touched on their culture.

It has been rewarding to see the ways that this grant is being used to increase the quality of service for Indigenous peoples. Managers and staff at each library within the Northern Lights system are being provided with cultural sensitivity training, including a historical tour of Blue Quills Residential School.  Staff at Northern Lights have conducted outreach into Indigenous communities through attending Pow Wows and Treaty Days, and taken this as an opportunity to welcome Indigenous peoples to the library. Thanks to provincial funding, library membership fees for Indigenous peoples are now equal to what they are for all municipality members, and programs are being integrated into libraries that embrace their culture. Most recently, an event called “Kookum’s Storytime” was held at the Bonnyville Municipal Library. Because political and financial barriers have now been removed, Northern Lights is able to work on cultural and sociological barriers that have existed within communities.

Robyn feels extremely grateful to be in a workplace that shares her values. While she learned so much about the importance of libraries, inclusiveness, and outstanding service during her time at Dalhousie, she now gets to put theories into action. Providing equitable services to Indigenous peoples is a crucial step to providing all people of all cultures with the resources and support they need in their local libraries.

[1] Unlike in other provinces, some Albertan libraries charge a membership fee for all patrons