{"id":48850,"date":"2026-03-27T13:55:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T20:55:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/newmexicoinfocus\/?p=48850"},"modified":"2026-03-27T13:55:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T20:55:20","slug":"tribal-libraries-fill-critical-gaps-in-communities-despite-limited-staff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/newmexicoinfocus\/tribal-libraries-fill-critical-gaps-in-communities-despite-limited-staff\/","title":{"rendered":"Tribal libraries fill critical gaps in communities, despite limited staff"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Bella Davis, New Mexico In Depth<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This story<\/a> was originally published at New Mexico In Depth<\/a>, a NMPBS partner.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Valarie Bellson sits in the main collection room of the Zuni Public Library on March 10, 2026. Credit: Benjamin C Yazza\/NMPBS and New Mexico In Depth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Growing up in Zuni Pueblo in northwest New Mexico, Valarie Bellson remembers walking to the tribe\u2019s public library when she needed a place to hang out. Decades later, the staff helped her figure out how to apply for jobs online using their computer lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, as the library\u2019s acting director and children\u2019s program coordinator, Bellson takes pride in creating similar experiences for other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith the high school interns and some adult volunteers we have, I always convey the message to them that our patrons come, they make time out of their day to come to our library, and let\u2019s provide the best service,\u201d Bellson said. \u201cLet\u2019s have them feel that they\u2019ve accomplished something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zuni Public Library, established in 1974, is one of 24 tribal libraries in New Mexico. Despite often having limited staff, they each provide essential and varied services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe tribal public libraries serve as a public library, so they\u2019re open to the public, but they really are there to serve their communities, so their Pueblo, tribe, or nation, with whatever needs and wants that the community has,\u201d said Cassandra Osterloh (Cherokee), the tribal libraries program coordinator for the New Mexico State Library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They might, for example, have sewing or pottery-making classes or storytelling events in their Native languages, Osterloh said. During the last fiscal year, they recorded about 79,000 visits, according to<\/a> the State Library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the roughly 6,000 people living in Zuni Pueblo, the next closest public library is 45 minutes away in Gallup, a drive that\u2019s even longer for some nearby Din\u00e9 communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from checking out books, visitors can use the computers for as long as they need \u2014 kids have to read for 15 minutes before getting online \u2014 and print out Zuni language materials at no cost. On occasion, they can learn embroidery or other crafts. And families can browse a small assortment of free children\u2019s books, many written by Native authors, meant to help them build up their personal collections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This story is part of Indigenously Positive, a collaborative series from New Mexico In Depth and NMPBS telling joyful stories from Native communities around our state.
Have an idea for a story? Reach out to host\/co-producer Bella Davis (Yurok) at bella.NMID@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bellson tries to make sure everyone feels welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That includes unsheltered people, who sometimes take a break in one of the reading rooms while charging their phones or, during the winter, come in to get warm. Asked if there\u2019s another local spot that\u2019s as inviting for people living without homes, she said she couldn\u2019t think of one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just being that safe space where you\u2019re not going to be bothered, you\u2019re not going to be harassed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bellson is one of two staff members, although three part-time employees are set to start soon. With Zuni Pueblo having a population of around 6,000 people, they should have six or seven full-time employees, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many tribal libraries have staffing challenges that mean they can\u2019t be open as often as they\u2019d like to be, according to Osterloh. Part of the problem is New Mexico doesn\u2019t have a university or college that offers a library science certification or degree, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019d like to see a certification program specifically for tribal libraries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The library is able to provide the services it does in part because the staff get help from \u2014 and give help to \u2013 other divisions of the tribal government as part of a collaboration with the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center and census and archives offices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think we can have endless conversations about collaboration, of what Zuni was like in our history, and how really, how special we are to still be here as a community, as a people,\u201d said Curtis Quam, the museum technician and culture educator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the teamwork is simple. This winter, the library popped a couple hundred bags of popcorn for guests at a play the museum put on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat was cool was people were coming and they were trying to flash their money, like, \u2018How much is it?\u2019 We\u2019re like, \u2018It\u2019s free.\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s free?\u2019 So we\u2019re like, we need to think about having this as a fundraiser,\u201d Bellson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tribal libraries are funded by a mix of federal, tribal, and state dollars. On that front, she\u2019d like to see a change to the Rural Library Endowment Fund, which state lawmakers have appropriated over $30 million to since they created it in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zuni\u2019s library doesn\u2019t benefit from it. The funding is only available to libraries serving populations of 3,000 or fewer. Bellson hopes the Legislature will eventually raise that limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re the little hidden gem, the shiny turquoise that it can be for our community,\u201d Bellson said. Given the work they\u2019re already doing, she said, \u201cimagine what could happen\u201d with more resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, hear more from Bellson and Quam, plus folks working in the tribe\u2019s census and archives offices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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