Working at tribal college and university libraries: A portrait

Abstract This article presents an overview of the working lives of tribal college and university library directors and other library staff at the beginning of the 21st century. While little has been written on tribal college and university libraries in general, even less is known about what it is actually like to work at these libraries—the daily joys and frustrations and the factors that contribute to both positive and negative work experiences. This study addresses such questions as why individuals choose to work at a tribal college or university library, how they have emotionally and spiritually grown because of their work, and whether they would choose to stay.