There will be temporary traffic and utility impacts on Lawson Street during the first two weeks of December as Skanska completes work to shut off and cap a water main. View more information on our Construction Projects page.
Many communities observe Indigenous Peoples鈥 Day & Native American Heritage Month, shifting the focus away from celebrating colonization and toward honoring the first peoples of this land鈥攖heir histories, cultures, and ongoing contributions.
For libraries, this isn鈥檛 just a date on the calendar. It鈥檚 a reminder of our responsibility: to tell fuller stories, to amplify Indigenous & Native American voices, and to make sure our shelves, programs, and spaces reflect the people whose lands we鈥檙e on.
Our library invites you to join us in celebration, reflection, and learning.
For generations, U.S. history has often been told from a single perspective鈥攗sually centering European exploration and settlement. Indigenous Peoples鈥 Day & Native American Heritage Month asks us to step back and ask: Whose stories are missing? Whose voices were silenced?
The holiday recognizes that Indigenous peoples are not just historical figures in textbooks, but present-day communities, leaders, artists, and knowledge keepers, continuing to shape our world. Many cities and states now officially recognize Indigenous Peoples鈥 Day & Native American Heritage Month in place of or alongside Columbus Day, reflecting a broader shift toward more honest, inclusive history.
For us as a library, that means:
Highlighting Indigenous authors and creators
Providing resources created by Indigenous scholars and communities, not just about them
Encouraging respectful, curiosity-driven learning at every age
麻豆影视 Library offers a variety of ways to engage with Indigenous perspectives鈥攚hether you like to read, watch, listen, or participate.
Look for our Indigenous Voices displays in the library, featuring:
Fiction & poetry by Indigenous authors
Nonfiction on history, contemporary issues, and Indigenous rights
Children鈥檚 picture books that center Indigenous kids and families
Teen & graphic novels showcasing Indigenous characters and creators
These displays are a great starting point if you鈥檙e thinking, 鈥淚 want to read more Indigenous authors, but I don鈥檛 know where to start.鈥 (We鈥檝e all been there. That鈥檚 literally what we鈥檙e here for.)
Selected documentaries and films by Indigenous filmmakers
Films on Demand discussions focusing on historical context, media representation, and ways to support Indigenous communities today
Although Indigenous Peoples鈥 Day is one day in October, Indigenous history and culture are not a 鈥渙ne-day-only鈥 topic. They continue into Native American Heritage Month in November.
If you鈥檙e newer to these topics, it鈥檚 totally normal to feel unsure where to begin. Here are some simple, practical ways to learn and honor Indigenous communities:
Read or watch content created by Indigenous & Native peoples. Prioritize authors, filmmakers, historians, and journalists who are speaking from within their own communities.
Question the 鈥渟ingle story.鈥 If you learned neat, simplified versions of history in school, it鈥檚 okay to update your mental files. That鈥檚 growth, not guilt.
Avoid stereotypes. Indigenous peoples are incredibly diverse鈥攄ifferent nations, languages, cultures, and traditions. There is no one 鈥淣ative experience.鈥
Support Indigenous-led organizations and businesses. Learning is important; so is material support when and where you鈥檙e able.
And remember: it鈥檚 fine to not know everything. Curious and respectful is better than silent and uncomfortable.
Here are just a few types of resources you can explore with your library card:
Books: from historical overviews to contemporary Indigenous speculative fiction
E-books & audiobooks: perfect if you prefer to listen or read on the go
Research databases: helpful for educators, parents, and students looking for classroom-ready materials about Indigenous history and present-day issues.
If you鈥檙e not sure where to start, ask a librarian鈥攖ell us what you like (mystery, romance, sci-fi, poetry, graphic novels, history deep dives, etc.), and we鈥檒l help you find Indigenous authors in that lane.