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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF TRIBAL PUBLIC

LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WHEREAS, tribal public libraries were created and

organized in the 1970s to meet the growing educational needs

of tribal communities; and

WHEREAS, tribal public libraries are unique community

centers that connect students, scholars and community members

to the world of information by providing and teaching access

to resources that are relevant to tribal communities; and

WHEREAS, tribal public libraries serve all ages in their

respective communities and are located in the epicenter of

tribal communities, serving not only as informational resource

centers but also as cultural information centers that play a

vital role in language and cultural preservation; and

WHEREAS, today, tribal public libraries exist in older

buildings that were not designed for library use, nor do they

have the capacity to deliver up-to-date technologies and

services such as reliable high-speed connectivity for ease of

use and security; and

WHEREAS, tribal public libraries positively impact the

quality of life of tribal members by providing free services

such as distance education, general equivalency diploma

classes, workshops, training, after-school activities and

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library programs to tribal communities that are located in

rural, impoverished areas of New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, tribal public libraries must compete for tribal

revenues often earmarked for infrastructure such as roads,

sewer and water lines, irrigation systems, emergency response

systems, adequate medical facilities and communications

systems that are lacking in tribal communities; and

WHEREAS, tribal public libraries are filled to capacity

but have limited staff to serve tribal communities with basic

services, including access to evening and weekend hours as

demanded by patrons; and

WHEREAS, tribal public libraries lack the space to

create computer laboratories, greatly limiting the provision

of information literacy and technology training that would

enhance library services;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the library

division of the cultural affairs department and the Indian

affairs department be requested to undertake a joint

comprehensive assessment of tribal libraries throughout the

state to determine financial resources and needs for the

operation of those libraries; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the library division of the

cultural affairs department and the Indian affairs department

be requested to present their findings and recommendations

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regarding the operational financial needs of tribal libraries

to the appropriate interim legislative committees no later

than October 1, 2008; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the secretary of cultural affairs and the

secretary of Indian affairs.