The New Mexico State Library is bringing more digital resources and knowledge to state residents – for free.
All libraries across the state will provide visitors with The Palace Project e-book library and the New York Times digital subscription, which includes access to both its cooking and games sections.
“All of this is part of the New Mexico State Library’s commitment to improve access to entertaining and educational materials in rural communities,” said Kate Alderete, deputy state librarian.
The New Mexico State Library provides services to all public and tribal libraries, including consultation, training and continuing education. Alderete said the addition of both The Palace Project and the New York Times not only expands the catalog of accessible material to the public, but is also a step toward the department’s goal of improving and supporting broadband internet statewide.
“We want to ensure access to quality digital material for all New Mexicans,” she said.
The Palace Project, a nonprofit division of Lyrasis and partner with Digital Public Library of America, is a platform that supports public libraries by offering digital content, which, in turn, expands resources and knowledge. Its mission is to build a stronger relationship between public libraries and patrons and provide accessible use to thousands of available titles on one app.
“It’s 100% free and super easy to use,” Alderete said. “There was a group of librarians here at the State Library that curated the collection that we have access to, so we chose books that are popular; we chose books that are substantial to where we live.”
Both e-books and audiobooks are available through the service, and Alderete said the material “encompasses all reader levels in both Spanish and English.”
New Mexicans can download The Project Palace app, search for New Mexico State Library, then simply start reading.
The New York Times is slightly different. New Mexicans can gain access to the digital subscription through their local library, Bookmobile stop or through Books By Mail. The latter option is a delivery service offered by the New Mexico State Library for people who live in rural parts of the state and don’t live close to a library or Bookmobile stop.
Patrons can establish a New York Times account, contact their local library for the subscription access code – which changes daily, but once entered, the subscriber doesn’t need another code – and then peruse the paper’s content at your leisure.
New Mexicans will have unlimited access to every section of the paper, including op-eds and reviews, and the New York Times magazine. In addition, they can search for new recipes and guides in the cooking section, and visit the games section for the daily crossword, various brain teasers and society’s most recent standing obsession: Wordle.
Alderete explained that the renowned newspaper will provide residents with not only national news, but the entertainment aspect as well.
“Opening the world up a little bit to New Mexicans is part of the goal,” she said.
For more information on the processes to access both The Palace Project and the New York Times digital subscription, Alderete encourages patrons to visit or call their local library, or visit the New Mexico State Library’s website for additional guidance.
No matter where people live in the state, they now have a plethora of new content and knowledge available, and that helps both the public and the library system.
Alderete added, “If you have access and can walk into a library, there’s a wealth of information there, and that’s kind of how we can reach every New Mexican.”
