OPINION: Funding for rural and tribal libraries should be a priority

As technology makes it easier to never leave home, New Mexico’s public libraries are more important than ever. And the smaller the community, the more essential the library.

As an author who enjoys talking about the joys of reading and writing, I’ve had the opportunity to visit many of our state’s rural libraries. They have a special place in my heart. Vibrant and as diverse as the little villages they serve, these libraries are more than places for books. They are welcoming spaces where friendships grow, children are nurtured, and the elderly acknowledged. They are havens for new parents and grandparents to bring youngsters for story hours and places where anyone can use a computer to apply for a job. Many offer adult education classes, workshops in cultural preservation, summer reading programs, tutoring, music, teen nights, movies and, of course, books!

And that’s just the beginning.

Cozy rural libraries serve another vital function. As thoughtful custodians of official records, personal memoirs, village documents, rare photographs and more, they safeguard irreplaceable stories in the rich and varied history of New Mexico. Free community centers open to all, they keep their hometowns alive.

I have been honored to speak at small, beloved libraries throughout the state: in Jemez Springs, Reserve, Magdalena, Mountainair, Eagle Nest, Angel Fire, Questa, Red River and more. I’ve seen how each of these unique gems serves constituents with a menu of opportunities based on community needs. I join the chorus of voices urging our governor to champion full funding of the rural library endowment so these vital places can continue to support the areas they serve.

Unlike public libraries in larger cities, these tiny libraries can’t rely on community funding. Thankfully, the state of New Mexico stepped in with an endowment. The New Mexico Rural Library Endowment (RLE) provides funding for eligible rural and tribal public libraries serving hamlets with populations of 3,000 people or less. To keep these libraries functioning, the endowment needs to grow. The New Mexico Rural Library Initiative and its supporters would like the Legislature to allocate an additional $29.5 million in the 2026 session. With the increase, the libraries can hire and retain professional librarians to create programs and plan for the future. I am happy to join the chorus of reasonable voices asking the governor and Legislature to make rural and tribal library sustainability a funding priority.

Public libraries make life better for everyone. I would not have become an author if it hadn’t been for public libraries and kind librarians I encountered growing up in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Every child in New Mexico deserves to live in a place where they can visit a library. Supporting these little libraries so that they can continue to nurture the communities they serve is a fine and worthy investment in our state’s future.

Anne Hillerman is a mystery author, executive producer of the "Dark Winds" series and a University of New Mexico graduate.