Created by and for a specific American Indian community and offering special materials related to the tribe itself, a tribal library may also serve as homework center, a reading room, a tribal archive or a community center.

Entries offer information on each tribe's ethnology, language and history, location and contact details, as well as a description of collections, services and access policies. Input from library staff and patrons about what makes their libraries unique and important to their communities is also included. Maps are included to show the locations of the libraries in each state.