Expanding Community Access to Health Information through Membership in the North Dakota University Network at the Turtle Mountai

Turtle Mountain Community College (TMCC) is a vital institution in higher education and community support for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Rolette County. As a tribal
college chartered by the Turtle Mountain Tribe in 1972, TMCC stands as one of the first tribal colleges in the nation. It serves as an accredited post-secondary institution and an institution's member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. TMCC's library, located on its campus, serves a dual purpose – as a college and public library for the Tribe's members and the surrounding community.

However, TMCC, despite its importance, faces challenges related to the availability of critical health information resources. To address this, TMCC's library aims to secure funding to join the Online Dakota Information Network (ODIN). ODIN is a unified library system that brings together over 60 libraries across North Dakota, including all 11 North Dakota University System institutions. It provides access to many resources, including numerous health-related databases. By joining ODIN, TMCC's library will significantly enhance its capacity to serve the health information needs of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and the broader Rolette County community.

Library staff at TMCC includes a Library Director, Library Technician, along with part-time library assistants. The TMCC library has 5,956 registered patrons. The library's extensive
collection comprises 27,289 items across various categories, including Fiction, Non-fiction, Children's, Young Adults, Reference, audiobooks, DVDs, periodicals, and 5,284 items related
explicitly to TM/Native American content. Furthermore, the library subscribes to multiple online academic journals and databases. TMCC's library also promotes digital access by providing free computer and Wi-Fi access.