# 2025-19960: Vermont Library Discovers Native American Remains Amid Bookshelves

2025-19960, Notice of Inventory Completion: Bixby Memorial Free Library, Vergennes, VT, is a Federal Register notice from Interior Department, National Park Service published 2025-11-17, effective 2025-12-17 (as of 2026-06-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-19960
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-19960
- Title: Notice of Inventory Completion: Bixby Memorial Free Library, Vergennes, VT
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Interior Department; National Park Service
- Citation: 90 FR 51400
- Published: 2025-11-17
- Effective: 2025-12-17
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-08

## In one line

Vermont Library Discovers Native American Remains Amid Bookshelves

## Summary

The Bixby Memorial Free Library in Vermont has finished checking its collection and found two Native American human remains linked to the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe. Starting December 17, 2025, these remains can be returned to the tribe. This is a respectful step to honor Native American heritage, with no costs or risks involved for the public.

## Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Bixby Memorial Free Library has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

## Effects PRIA read

- Repatriation Allowed Starting December 17, 2025: benefit, low. The Bixby Memorial Free Library completed its inventory and found two Native American human remains that may be returned to a requesting party on or after December 17, 2025.
- Library Finds Cultural Link to Stockbridge‑Munsee: benefit, low. The Bixby Memorial Free Library determined the two human remains are culturally affiliated with the Stockbridge‑Munsee Community, Wisconsin.
- Who May Request Repatriation: benefit, low. Repatriation requests may be submitted by any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in the notice, or by a lineal descendant or tribe not identified who shows by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or have cultural affiliation.
- Competing and Joint Repatriation Requests: mixed, low. If competing repatriation requests are received, the Bixby Memorial Free Library must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; requests submitted jointly are treated as a single request.
- No Treatment Hazards Documented for Remains: benefit, low. The Bixby Memorial Free Library states it has no documentation that any potentially hazardous substances were used to treat the human remains, and no associated funerary objects are present.

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## Sources
- [2025-19960 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/17/2025-19960/notice-of-inventory-completion-bixby-memorial-free-library-vergennes-vt)
- [2025-19960 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-11-17/pdf/2025-19960.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2025-19959, Notice of Inventory Completion: Museum of Us, San Diego, CA](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-19959)
- [Next: 2025-19961, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-19961)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-19960 (as of 2026-06-08).