I am thankful to all who have helped and supported me in the process of the dissertation research. Your generosity, support, kindness and wisdom have been appreciated and have contributed to the final product.

For those individuals who have provided me with exceptional challenges, I thank you for strengthening my personal stamina, determination, and convictions.

"If you want to share a vision or tell the truth, you pick up your pen and take your chances." – Nikki Giovanni

"Enormous gratitude is extended to:

• Professors, staff and students at Emporia State University School of Library and Information Management, in particular, Anita Woods and Candice Kistleman;

• Kansas State University Libraries, staff and administration during my Multicultural Graduate Internship;

• Molly Royse and Pramila Tummala of the KSU Libraries Multicultural Research and Resource Center who continued as my mentors during my Multicultural Graduate Internship;

• Emporia State University William Allen White Library, Kansas State University Hale Library, and San Juan College Library Circulation and Interlibrary Loan staff for their tolerance of the continual renewal of my library materials;

• New Mexico State Library Tribal Libraries Program Advocates Alison Freese and Jean Whitehorse for asking me to be a part of the Native American Access to Technology Pilot Program at Lake Valley, New Mexico. Their ongoing commitment to tribal libraries and tribal community centers is commendable;

• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations New American Access to Technology initiative in recognizing and generously acting on the Indian Country digitl divide on the Navajo Nation;

• Native American Access to Technology (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations) Grant Program Manager, Jessica Dorr, who has become a valuable networking friend and technical advisor;

• Dr. Hilary McLellan for her intellectual generosity;

• Drs. Brian O'Connor and Roger Wyatt for keeping me on a focused path;

• Dr. Jack Glazier for his knwoledge about qualitative research;

• Tripod Homepage Studio free web hosting.

To my parents, who instilled in me the vital spirit of freedom and responsibility to do whatever my heart desired!

Drs. Anthony and Cynthia Vitali, for the privilege of their computer and Internet while writing the dissertation proposal. I am still in debt to you both.

It was a privilege to work with and to be guided by the genuinely caring, creative scholars and artists of my dissertation committee mentors. Drs. Brian O’Connor, Roger Wyatt, Paul Zolbrod, and Jack Glazier, thank you for your understanding, support, wisdom, protection, guidance, and belief in me through my zone of proximal development within this project and the doctoral program in general.I value your friendship and academic scholarship.

Thank you to Michele DeLese for providing a comfortable home, care, nurturance, support, and friendship - a true benefactor! Your continual encouragement contributed to maintaining a healthy and happy balance during the doctoral research experience.