Dona Ana County Free Little Libraries

Pick up a free bilingual and STEM book packet at Dona Ana County Free Little Libraries. Complete the survey on this blog if you could not find a packet in your NM Free Little Library and RNM will mail one to you.  

Miss New Mexico Teen Tourism, Valeria Marquez and Miss New Mexico Tourism, Daisy Cervantes along with Brianna Pena, have been busy this summer, with virtual science bilingual presentations including in packets from Explora Science Center in Albuquerque along with the New Mexico State Library's summer reading program information and links with a fun activity, New Mexico Book Bingo.   

We are limited at the Downtown Craft and Makers Market this summer through October, but have offered curb-side distribution during the virtual storytime.  

Please wear a mask and practice social distancing, we do sanitize the materials in the NM Free Little Libraries, but please wipe down if you get one, before 

you use the books, experiments, etc.   RNM is grateful to The Stocker Foundation, who has provided us with the resources to keep education during the summer months and provide support for the beginning of the school year.

RNM has supported the summer reading program at Hatch Public Library, please visit the virtual storytime and the library, if you are in the area for more details.

Look for us on September 26 for a virtual Cuentos Storytime featuring our NM Latinas through ZOOM with an opportunity for an open mic.  Email us for some details at nwnmac1@gmail.com

Summer Reading in New Mexico

New Mexico State Library Hitchhiker
New Mexico Cultural Affairs

Summer is halfway over for the public libraries of New Mexico and that means halfway through a different kind of Summer Reading Program. Gone are the filled meeting rooms with a magician performing tricks for dozens of families; gone are the weekly trips to the library to turn in reading logs and pick up prizes.This year, programs have moved online or curbside or a mixture of both. Libraries are providing take and go crafts in bags with Facebook tutorials for completing the craft like Thomas Branigan Memorial Library. Some libraries are doing virtual prize raffles like Los Lunas Public Library. 

Some libraries are working together to provide virtual programming across communities like Edgewood and Albuquerque. Libraries have gone virtual for turning in hours, like Rio Rancho Public Libraries. Even though Summer may look different this year, libraries are adapting and figuring out what works best for them!

The State Library is helping by working with the New Mexico Library Foundation to provide virtual programs. In June, musician Andy Mason performed 5 Facebook concerts around the state at:

• Grants Public Library
• The Public Library Albuquerque- Bernalillo County
• Lovington Public Library
• Alamogordo Public Library
• Silver City Public Library

Explora Science Center in Albuquerque is has made fairy tale themed STEM videos using materials found at home:

• Humpty Dumpty: How Strong is an Egg
• Humpty Dumpty: Egg Jumper
• Rapunzel: Hair & Fibers Up Close
• Rapunzel: Strength of Hair
• Three Billy Goats Gruff: Science Investigation

And we’re hosting an online reading log for those libraries that are in need of one! All of this information, including how to find the library closest you, can be found on our new Summer Reading website.

The Lieutenant Governor, Howie Morales, even joined in on the fun and read The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell! You can check out his video on Facebook or read more about it here.

Yes, Summer 2020 has needed to be reimagined and the libraries of New Mexico have done an outstanding job figuring out new ways to provide services and programming to their communities!