Native American Basic Grants

To be eligible for an award under this Native American Library Services Basic Grants Notice
of Funding Opportunity, your Native Community must be Federally recognized and offer
library and/or archival services to the community. Such services may include, but are not
limited to providing free access to:
• books, print and electronic media;
• research databases;
• job, employment, and career resources;
• reference desk services;
• space for reading, studying, and meeting; and
• events and activities such as programs, classes, and cultural events for all ages.

For the purposes of funding eligibility for Native Communities under this program, IMLS
adheres to the criteria in our statute which utilizes the defined term “Indian Tribe”. 20 U.S.C.
§ 9161. “Indian Tribe” (or “Tribe” or “Native Community”) means “any tribe, band, nation, or
other organized group or community, including any Alaska native village, regional
corporation, or village corporation (as defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq.)), which is recognized as eligible for
the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their
status as Indians.” Id. at § 9101(5).

The Bureau of Indian Affairs publishes updated lists of Federally recognized Tribal and
Native entities in the Federal Register. This list is periodically updated; the following link list
was published to the Federal Register is the from the on December 11, 2024, Federal
Register: list of Federally recognized Tribes in the Federal Register.