Actively involving community members in the use of educational facilities is a hallmark of Indian education programs. In higher education, tribal college libraries carry on this tradition for the benefit of young and old alike. The presidents also suggest that an inspiring array of library activities enhances tribal economic development. For example, employers on the reservations can turn to library resources and equipment to train employees. Career awareness and job-locating materials are available to community members.
Some libraries record ongoing efforts to reclaim and maintain control of tribal natural resources.
In addition, the tribal college libraries support grant-writing activities to secure external funding. Indian education and the economic vitality of tribal communities go hand in hand, and tribal college libraries cultivate this mutually beneficial relationship. Tribal college presidents are quick to point out that tribal college library staff members involve themselves in a myriad of non-Indian and Indian education programs outside the tribal college. For example, one activity involves collecting material statewide to support the gifted and talented program for American Indian students who are designing and developing science projects. Another tribal college library has produced an annotated bibliography of resources on tribal history for students to use when preparing reports.