Education Land Trusts were established nationally after the revolutionary war to provide income for public education. Many states sold their trusts. When New Mexico became a state, the constitution stipulated that it could not sell state trust lands. Consequently, New Mexico's Land Grant Permanent Fund is one of the largest state land trusts in the nation.
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The idea of a public/private partnership to create statewide rural library endowments was discussed in the mid 1990s with then state librarian Ben Wakashege and representatives from several foundations and non-profit libraries. During the intervening years no other solutions have been found.
The New Mexico Legislature understands the benefits of public endowments. The state land trust is our largest funding source for public education. An endowment requires no new taxes and will fund the libraries in perpetuity. The public fund was established with broad support, passing the state House of Representatives unanimously. Both Democrats and Republicans spoke in favor of it.
Private philanthropy is foundational to the success of New Mexico's rural libraries. The generosity of donors large and small enables many of us to keep our doors open, improve our facilities and provide the innovative programing that helps sustain our communities. A private endowment to fund New Mexico's rural libraries has been established at the Santa Fe Community Foundation.
We would like the endowment to be funded with $50 million dollars. This will provide each of more than 50 community and pueblo libraries with about $45,000 per year at 5% earnings for the fund. It will make grant funds available for the establishment and support of new libraries in small communities that don't already have one. It will also fund specialized services to rural libraries though the New Mexico State Library.
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New Mexico's rural libraries play a vital role their communities. They provide internet and computer access to people who don't have them at home. Rural libraries are often community centers where local groups hold meetings and sponsor events. Some provide the only local early childhood education or tutoring programs. They can serve as repositories of local history. Many host programs like archeology talks and workshops, author readings, adult computer literacy classes, STEM classes, maker spaces, and art workshops. Some even host free movie nights.
In a crisis, such as a flood or fire, the library is often the first place place people go for information. Rural libraries spur economic development. Some help with resume writing, computer skills, and long distance entrepreneurship. Others hold job fairs.
And they lend out books. Small towns have fewer services than cities, so rural libraries are called upon to do many things to help their communities survive and thrive. They are a place to connect with others in community, strengthening relationships and fostering grassroots problem solving.
Other things many rural libraries provide include;
• Notary, copy and fax services
• Summer reading programs
• Connections with other state resources including Museums, the Albuquerque Zoo, wildlife centers, the Santa Fe Opera, Explora, and more
• Oral history projects
• Opportunities for community service
• Help accessing government services such as Affordable Care Act registration and tax forms
• After school programs
Individual New Mexican rural libraries have created projects unique to their communities such as sponsoring a;
• Radio station
• Public Park Kids reading to dogs project, to develop confidence to read aloud
• Local Fiesta
• Day care center Heritage orchard and pollinator garden
• Genealogy research project
• Second hand store
• Farmer's Market
As grassroots organizations, rural libraries are in a position to know and address their community's needs.
The Vallecitos Library, for example, learned through a survey of their community that many locals can't afford to add minutes to their phones. The library now provides free phone service when they are open.
Jemez Springs Public Library participated in the Valles Caldera Elk Festival on September 24, 2016. Kids enjoyed making their own bugle to “bugle like an elk” and adults learned about library services and enjoyed a “make the coyote chase the elk” Mobius strip challenge.
A regular library patron requested help formatting a word document. It was a final essay for her GED. She came into the library a month later to write a cover letter and submit an online job application, and she showed me her successful GED certificate. She told me “I’m not doing it for myself, I’m doing it for my kids so they can see that education is important. - Embudo Valley Library and Community Center
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Rio Arriba Independent Libraries (RAIL) provided the inspiration to create the initiative. RAIL is a coalition of five 501 (c)(3) libraries in Rio Arriba County. Each library was established through grassroots community efforts.
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