Culturally Connected Literacy: The Impact of the Indigenous Library Program

Little Free Library (LFL) is a nonprofit organization located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Its mission is “to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-exchange boxes.” The Indigenous Library Program, an LFL program born from the Native Library Initiative, is committed to providing book-sharing boxes on tribal lands in Indigenous communities at no cost. The program launched in June 2023, in an effort to bring books to “book deserts” in Indigenous communities.

According to the 2024 American Indian Student Achievement Data Report, reading proficiency scores indicate that in 2018, “the rate of non-American Indian students considered proficient was 31 percentage points higher than that of [American Indian] students; in 2023, this difference between non-American Indian and American Indian students was 29 percentage points.”

This disparity is partly due to the fact that American Indian students face several educational and structural challenges that are not experienced as widely by non-American Indian students. Tribal schools are often underfunded, and access to early literacy programs is scarce in many Indigenous communities. Higher rates of poverty can also affect a child’s ability to focus and learn.

In addition, the standardization of curricula often lacks cultural relevance, making it difficult for Indigenous students to engage with reading material that doesn’t reflect their experiences or heritage. Many also face implicit bias or lowered expectations from educators, which can affect motivation and performance.

Talia Miracle, program manager of the Indigenous Library Program, participated in the following interview, conducted via email on October 6, 2025. She discusses the program’s impact on Indigenous communities and the challenges it seeks to address.

Send an email to your Representatives to show your support for libraries!

Measuring Long-Term Impact

TABITHA HILLIARD: How do you measure the long‑term impact of an Indigenous Little Free Library once it’s been installed?

MIRACLE: We measure long-term impact with anecdotal information that is shared by our stewards (the caretakers of the library). I have developed relationships with stewards and regularly speak with them. They share what their experience stewarding the library has been and feedback they’ve received from the community. I hear that the books are well received and that kids are reading more with access to the literacy materials provided in the libraries.

Right now, we are working with the Tohono Oʼodham Nation on an assessment project that will tell us more about the long-term impacts of the little free libraries in their community. It is a very exciting project because we will be able to measure our impact with data from users of the libraries!

Challenges in Outreach and Stewardship

TABITHA HILLIARD: What challenges have you encountered in collaborating with tribal governments, community organizations, or local stewards in maintaining these libraries — and how have you addressed them?

MIRACLE: (E.g., funding continuity, logistical barriers, cultural sensitivities, staffing, or supply chain issues.) A challenge I have had is not having enough time to do outreach regarding the program. The Indigenous program launched a little over two years ago, so there is still a lot of awareness to raise. I have attended events locally in the Twin Cities and am attending a couple of conferences out of state, but it takes time to connect with different communities.

I have also granted libraries to stewards who have a life change that may not be communicated, such as moving or changing jobs, so then we may lose touch with that individual and need to find a new steward for the library to ensure it remains an active community resource.

Funding is always a challenge, as Little Free Library is a nonprofit, and our programs rely on the generosity of individual, corporate, and foundation partners. The more funding we receive, the more libraries that can be placed in Indigenous communities.

Take action today to support libraries!

Curating Culturally Relevant Book Sets

TABITHA HILLIARD: How do you navigate decisions about which titles to include (or exclude) in starter or replenishment sets, particularly when the Indigenous communities you serve may have diverse languages, traditions, or preferences?

MIRACLE: I am very proud of the books we provide through the Indigenous program. The titles were curated by a Native advisory group and are reviewed annually.

We provide two book bundles to every steward, one containing diverse titles and another containing books featuring Indigenous people and experiences. We know that Indigenous people are not a monolith, so we include stories that feature a wide variety of voices and stories. 

I have received feedback from communities that books written in their traditional languages are always valued and requested.

A Call to Indigenous Readers and Allies

TABITHA HILLIARD: Is there anything else you would like EveryLibrary readers to know about the Indigenous Library Program?

MIRACLE: This program hopes to serve every Indigenous reader in the US and Canada. If you are a part of or serve an Indigenous community, please share this article or apply to the program. It is my goal to ensure that any and all Indigenous people, especially children, have access to culturally connected books through this program.

The work that Miracle and her team do is invaluable. By putting books directly into the hands of readers, they’re tackling the literacy gap in their communities with real, boots-on-the-ground action. EveryLibrary readers can support the Indigenous Library Program with a one-time donation and by sharing this article to spread awareness about the program’s mission.

EveryLibrary would like to thank Ms. Miracle for her participation in this interview and for her ongoing work with the Indigenous Library Program.

*Talia Miracle, program manager, can be reached via email at [email protected].

Visit www.everylibrary.org to learn more about our work on behalf of libraries. 

#librarymarketers: Enjoy this story? Want to use it for your library newsletter, blog, or social media? This article is published under Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International and is free to edit and use with attribution. Please cite EveryLibrary on medium.com/everylibrary.

This work by EveryLibrary is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0