The Indigenous Studies (IDS) Collection has been relocated to the Charles B. Sears Law Library, ensuring continued access for all University at Buffalo faculty and students.
Housing the IDS Collection in the Law Library supports interdisciplinary research by providing a centralized location for Indigenous studies and legal materials. The Department of Indigenous Studies, a relatively new department with a growing major, is expanding its offerings at UB. The collection remains open to all students and faculty, with materials available for circulation under the Law Library’s standard policies.
The move aligns with the Law Library’s existing Howard R. Berman and Iroquois Books of Marilyn L. Haas collections, which focus on Indigenous communities and Indian law. IDS majors are likely to require access to legal research materials for cross-disciplinary projects on topics such as environmental issues, boarding schools, missing and murdered Indigenous women, gaming, health, education, and tribal sovereignty. The IDS Collection continues to expand with new works by Indigenous scholars and materials relevant to faculty research within the department.
Located on the main floor of the Law Library—just past the reference materials and before the Federal Law Core items—the IDS Collection is easy to find. A large banner featuring the Haudenosaunee flag marks its location, creating a welcoming space for students and faculty. Special thanks to the IDS department and faculty for providing accurate Haudenosaunee-language spellings for the collection’s signage.
Keeping the collection on the main floor ensures full access during regular library hours, and the Law Library hopes to promote the space as a resource for all community members engaged in Indigenous studies research.
For more information, contact Rebecca Chapman, Undergraduate Law and Indigenous Outreach Librarian, 716-645-3832.