For Andie Manzanares, one of the pleasures of helping run Abiquiú’s rural library is watching patrons “connect the dots” — whether it’s kids stumbling on new ideas in a book or families flipping through the archive of genealogical records dating back centuries to trace their roots.
More than a repository for information, the library is the “heartbeat” of the community, she said, hosting cultural clubs, children’s programs, partnering with the school over the summer to provide free meals and providing fast internet many rely on.
But to keep the library open for more hours, pay staff a “more living wage” and expand its programming, the library needs more funding, said Manzanares, board president of the El Pueblo de Abiquiú Library and Cultural Center.
It’s not alone: The nonprofit New Mexico Rural Library Initiative, which advocates on behalf of around 60 rural libraries in the state including Abiquiú’s, is hoping to secure $29.5 million in the coming legislative session to boost funding.
“We’re offering services to a community that otherwise wouldn’t have it,” Manzanares said. “If we weren’t open and doing what we do, it wouldn’t be here.”
Nathan Burton/The New Mexican
Shel Neymark, executive director of the rural library initiative, helped push the Legislature to establish a rural library endowment in 2019, to which the Legislature has so far added $30.5 million. He wants to add another $29.5 million, which would give each library around $45,000 annually for years to come — which Neymark says would provide necessary stability.
Neymark said he’s heard some concern from lawmakers about declining state revenues and the need for the Legislature to prioritize filling in federal funding cuts over something like rural library funding — though he sees libraries as a crucial entity in connecting people to services.
“The willingness of rural libraries to help their communities according to their needs is there — they’re small enough institutions that they can pivot to do that,” Neymark said. “But they need more support.”
State Sen. Pete Campos, D-Las Vegas, said in an interview he plans to push for rural library funding in the coming session and is exploring “every avenue,” from adding to the endowment to a one-time appropriation.
“People might say, well, rural libraries, are they really important? They’re very important,” he said, calling them gathering places and where “the essence of learning takes place.”
He added: “I’m very optimistic, but again, facing reality as we see the declining revenue, as we readjust in some areas.”
‘Chronically underfunded’
Rural libraries often struggle for funding because the municipalities they’re in are poor, or they’re in unincorporated areas and need to raise all their money, Neymark said, calling the endowment boost and $45,000 per year possible payout a “micro investment that will have a big impact.”
During the last legislative session, the Rural Library Initiative made the same $29.5 million request, which lawmakers did not approve — although they did infuse $2.5 million for one-time funds for the libraries.
When Neymark presented his proposal to the Rural Development and Policy Committee on Dec. 8, Sen. Antonio Maestas, D-Albuquerque, suggested one-time funding might again be preferable.
“You’re asking us to put 30 more million dollars in a mattress and then peel out 5% each year for our libraries,” he said. “I say we spend money now.”
Neymark said that doesn’t provide consistency necessary for libraries to make long-term commitments like pay raises or hiring.
“It doesn’t solve the basic problem that these libraries are chronically underfunded and have really no other means to find stable, regular funding. … I applaud the Legislature’s feeling that they want to get money into the hands of these institutions right away, but it’s not necessarily what they really deeply need,” Neymark said.
Nathan Burton / The New Mexican
Manzanares said the Abiquiú library, with more stable, long-term funding, would expand hours and raise pay.
Currently, the library is open only 25 hours per week — and when it’s closed, some patrons have nowhere to go to copy something or access a computer, she said. Having later hours could expand opportunities for programs like after-school tutoring.
“The funding would give us an open door to do more and be more available in our community,” she said.
Looking forward
Neymark said amid federal cuts, libraries will play an even more integral role in providing for their communities — and that state programs attempting to fill in federal gaps can reach rural communities through their libraries, as well.
Some libraries have food pantries, some have telehealth booths and some connect patrons with health care navigators or Medicare, according to the results of a survey the initiative conducted this year. Others offer potable water for patrons who lack it, host flu shot clinics and provide relief after natural disasters.
Nathan Burton/The New Mexican
Neymark said state aid often has trouble reaching rural areas — and libraries are a trustworthy entity to act as a conduit.
“I think sending support to these small, vulnerable towns — these towns have value,” Neymark said. “I mean, they contribute to the culture of the state, and the state tends to be proud of having all these wonderful, unique towns here. But they need some support, and this is one of the few ways that really work to get support to them.”
Campos said it’s his understanding the Legislative Finance Committee’s initial budget framework doesn’t include additional funds for the endowment, but those recommendations won’t be published until January.
The final spending plan will be hashed out during the 30-day legislative session, which begins Jan. 20.