Releases | New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs

New Mexico State Library Foundation Fun Facts Series opens up the World of Literature

December 14th, 2018

(Santa Fe, New Mexico) -- The New Mexico State Library Foundation (NMSLF) was established in 2017 to support the New Mexico State Library, an institution that is somewhat mysterious to many state residents. NMSLF created and produced the Fun Facts social media campaign to educate the public and potential funders about the State Library’s collections and the programs and services it provides to New Mexico’s 119 local libraries. As a result of this social media campaign, nearly 800 people now follow the Foundation on Facebook.

The ten Fun Fact videos -- which range in length from 40 seconds to a minute and a half -- are posted on the Foundation’s website, http://statelibrarynmfoundation.org and on its’ Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/NMStateLibraryFoundation/.

Fun Fact No. 1:  Fine Binding/DCA FamilyPass

Fun Fact No. 2:  Newspapers/El Portal (newspaper and magazine digital database)

Fun Fact No. 3:  WPA Art Books

Fun Fact No. 4:  Water

Fun Fact No. 5:  The Atomic Age/Brainfuse (free online homework tutoring)

Fun Fact No. 6:  Rare Books

Fun Fact No. 7:  Maps/NMSL Book Mobiles

Fun Fact No. 8:  Military History

Fun Fact No. 9:  Native American Books/Tribal Libraries Program

Fun Fact No. 10:  U.S. Congressional Serial Set

The Foundation funds New Mexico State Library’s innovative programming, empowering libraries as community resource centers that enhance the economic, social and educational well-being of all New Mexicans.

Private/public partnerships enable state institutions to be more nimble in developing and immediately implementing innovative programming for New Mexico’s libraries -- rather than being totally subject to the legislative cycle for the approval of public funding. A recent example is Libraries as Launchpads, a joint venture between the Foundation, the State Library, and Creative Startups, which will provide business accelerator training to creative entrepreneurs at ten libraries statewide in 2019.

The New Mexico State Library Foundation works with the New Mexico State Library to provide support to libraries around the state in many ways. You can support the Foundation’s work by donating to the Foundation at http://statelibrarynmfoundation.org/

NMSLF board member, Moira Gehring, who originated the Fun Facts concept and produced the videos, said “Fun Facts highlight the wide variety of materials in the State Library’s Southwest Collection, from its rare books and maps to the state’s newspapers and the U.S. Congressional Serial Set, a celebrated resource for research in the field of American History.”   

State Librarian, Eli Guinnee, adds, “Fun Facts is a great opportunity to learn about the programs and support we make available to all of the state’s libraries, which include the FamilyPass, which provides access to all of the state’s museums and cultural sites; El Portal, a digital database of newspapers and magazines; Brainfuse, a free online homework tutoring service; our three Bookmobiles; and the Tribal Libraries program.”  

Filmmaker, Melissa Edmon (Stubborn Pug Productions), who shot and edited the ten Fun Facts videos said, “Working with the Foundation and State Library was a wonderful experience -- the materials highlighted in the videos are visually fascinating, giving the viewer a glimpse into the history of New Mexico. The dedication of both the Foundation Board and Library Staff is notable.”

Creative Consultant Alex Hanna said, “What an honor to work with the State Library Foundation to help uncover and share some of the amazing gems in the State Library collection. Using a fun video format and working with some of the most talented folks in cultural affairs, museums, and libraries, we dove deep into the eclectic breadth of the collection to connect it with the lives of all New Mexicans. This was more of a passion project than a job.”

To help support the New Mexico State Library’s groundbreaking programming, StateLibraryNMFoundation.org.

 

About the New Mexico State Library: http://www.nmstatelibrary.org/ - Established in 1929, the New Mexico State Library provides services that support public and tribal libraries, delivers direct library services to rural populations, state agencies, the visually impaired and physically disabled, and students and citizens conducting research. The library supports public libraries by providing consulting services, offering training and continuing education opportunities, administering the librarian certification program, coordinating a statewide summer reading program and tribal library program, and administering state and federal grants to public libraries. Part of the executive branch of state government, the New Mexico State Library is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs.

The New Mexico State Library is open 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 1209 Camino Carlos Rey, Santa Fe, NM 87507-5166, Phone: (505) 476-9700. Events, news releases and images about activities at the State Library and other divisions of the Department of Cultural Affairs can be accessed at media.newmexicoculture.org.

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