STATE LIBRARIAN RESIGNS

February 10, 2003; #1486

Library STATE LIBRARIAN RESIGNS

For the Word New Mexico State Librarian Benjamin Wakashige has turned in his
version resignation to Officer of Cultural Affairs Rueben Smith. The New Mexico
State Library is a division of the Office of Cultural Affairs.
click here
Ben, who has held the post of State Librarian since 1998, has accepted a
new position as the Director of the Library at Pacific University in Forest
Grove, Oregon. He continues his duties as New Mexico State Librarian until
May 20. His new appointment in Oregon begins June 1.

Following a nationwide search for State Librarian in 1998, Ben, who is
a native of Hawaii, was chosen from a pool of over thirty applicants for the
position. At that time he had been serving as the director of the Mary and Jeff
Bell Library at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Ben was well known to
the New Mexico library community where he had spent much of his career. As
graduate of the Emporia State University Library Science Masters program, he
began his library career at Birmingham-Southern College, Alabama, in 1972.
Following a year with Maine State Library as a consultant for library services
with the Library for the Handicapped, he came to New Mexico as the
supervisor of the State Library's Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped. He has worked in the development of community libraries in nine
Pueblos in New Mexico, served on library boards at Zuni, Rio Rancho, and
Silver City. He was the director of the library at Albuquerque Academy,
University of Albuquerque, the Cloyd Miller Library at Western New Mexico
University, and the Mary and Jeff Bell Library at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
He has served on the New Mexico Library Association, including NMLA
President in 1981/82, and as president of the New Mexico Consortium of
Academic Libraries in 1991/92. Currently Ben is serving on the Board of Read
West, LVA, the New Mexico Center for the Book, New Mexico Library
Foundation, New Mexico Endowment for the Humanities, and AMIGOS
Library Services, Inc.

A national search will be conducted seeking candidates for New Mexico
State Librarian (see advertisement below).

LIBRARY LEGISLATION

Joe Sabatini of the New Mexico Library Association's Legislation &
Intellectual Freedom Committee is publishing a Legislative Bulletin online as a
summary of library legislation during the 2003 Legislative Session (see HH

#1485). A continuation of the report of the bills thus far introduced are as
follows:

House Bills

HB 331 Rodella $ 100,000 Support operations of the libraries in
House District 41

HB 358 Boykin $ 10,000 Purchase video on NM in WW II for
every middle school, high school and public library. (=SB229)

HB 486 Miera $250,000 Expand adult literacy services in
underserved areas (=SB352)

House Capital Outlay Requests

HC 82 Luna $ 510,000 Design and construct a library addition
in Bosque Farms

HC 97 Townsend $ 120,000 Plan, design, construct and equip a
library and educational center at San Juan College East Center in Aztec

HC 161 Martinez $ 40,000 Construct, furnish, and equip a
basement for the Zollinger Library at the UNM Gallup campus

HC 162 Harrison $ 40,000 Remodel the basement of the library at
UNM Gallup

HC 198 Garcia $ 50,000 Library computer laboratory expansion
project at Rio Grande High School

HC 207 Coll $ 40,000 Furnish, equip, and make improvements
to the Vista Grande Public Library in Eldorado, Santa Fe

HC 228 Foley $384,000 Plan, design, construct, equip, and
furnish the public library in Capitan

House Joint Memorials

HJM 40 Coll Affirming civil rights and liberties, declaring
opposition to federal measures.... (=SJM 30)

Senate Bills

SB 352 Nava $ 250,000 Expand adult literacy services in
underserved areas (=HB486)

SB 447 Nava Additional powers of water and sanitation districts
(library and recreational facilities)

Senate Capital Outlay Requests

SC 180 Payne $ 90,000 Improvements at the Eldorado high
school cluster libraries

SC 241 Beffort $ 100,000 Improvements to the facility, grounds,
and parking lot at the Lomas-Tramway library

SC 274 Romero $25,000 Equipment and furnishings for the
Albuquerque/BCLS (Special Collections)

Senate Joint Memorials

SJM 30 McSorley Affirming civil rights and liberties, declaring
opposition to federal measures.... (=HJM 40)

Bill Notes:

Senate Bill 447 (Nava, Doña Ana) adds libraries and other recreational facilities
to the list of functions, which can be carried out by water and sanitation special
districts, with the consent of nearby municipalities. Here is the relevant text:

“73-21-3. PURPOSE OF WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICTS.--
Water and sanitation districts maybe created for the purpose of:

D. establishing, acquiring, owning, operating or constructing park and
recreational improvements, including indoor and outdoor playing fields,
libraries and equestrian, rodeo or any other public recreational
amenities, or all of [such] the improvements in Subsections A through
[D] F of this section or any combination [thereof] of them within or
without the district;

[E.] G. all of [such] the improvements in Subsections A through [D] F
of this section or any combination [thereof] of them within or without
the district; provided that if a water and sanitation district decides to
engage in activities authorized in Subsection D, E or F of this section,
the district shall, prior to taking that action, notify in writing all
municipalities within five miles of the proposed facility of the decision.
The district may proceed with its action after thirty days following the
notification unless a municipality, by resolution of its governing body
within the thirty days, opposes the district and adopts a plan and
appropriates the money to provide the services in the area proposed to
be served by the district."

House Joint Memorial 40 (Coll) and Senate Joint Memorial 30 (McSorley) are
companion memorials about the USA Patriot Act. Text relevant to libraries:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it:

A. affirm its strong support for fundamental constitutional rights and
its opposition to federal measures that infringe on these rights and
liberties;

B. affirm its strong support for the rights of immigrants and oppose
measures that single out individuals for legal scrutiny or
enforcement activity based on their country of origin;

E. direct public libraries to post in a prominent place within the library
a notice as follows: "WARNING: Under Section 215 of the federal
USA Patriot Act (Public Law 107-56), records of books and other
materials you borrow from this library may be obtained by federal
agents. This law also prohibits librarians from informing you if
records about you have been obtained by federal agents. Questions
about this policy should be directed to Attorney General John
Ashcroft, Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20530;” and

F. direct the state official in charge of homeland security for New
Mexico to seek periodically from federal authorities the following
information in a form that facilitates an assessment of the effect of
federal anti-terrorism efforts on the residents of the state of New
Mexico and provide to the legislature and the interim corrections
oversight and justice committee, no less than once every six months,
a summary of the information obtained:

6) the number of times library records have been obtained from
libraries in New Mexico pursuant to Section 215 of the USA Patriot
Act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the New Mexico state police and to all public schools,
institutions of higher education, and public libraries within the state of
New Mexico.

The Legislative bulletins are being posted to the list and added to the NMLA
website.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MPLA award nominations. Nothing makes a library worker feel
better than a heartfelt "thank you." Kaite Mediatore, the MPLA Awards Chair,
would like to remind members of the New Mexico library community that
awards are our way to say "thank you'" to special staff members, volunteers,
and library supporters on a large scale. MPLA is asking New Mexicans to
please think about the people who make a difference in our libraries. It could
be your creative and cheerful youth services staff or a helpful vendor who
patiently explained how to operate the new microfilm reader/printers. What
about the local legislator who took library issues to the state capitol or the local
newspaper who always sent a reporter or photographer to the library for a

story? These are the folks we'd like to see honored. Award nomination
form and further information is on the MPLA web site.

Join NMLA. Rogers Bardé, Membership Chair of the New Mexico
Library Association, would like to ask you to support your library by joining
the NMLA (and qualify for the membership conference rates). Go to the
website to investigate the benefits of membership and then print and fill out the
membership form. NMLA will be glad to have you as a member.

JOBS

State Librarian. New Mexico Office of Cultural Affairs, Library
Division, is seeking an energetic and experienced leader to serve as New
Mexico State Librarian. The agency has a $5.3 million budget and a staff of 65
FTE. The State Librarian is responsible for overall administration of the State
Library; promoting statewide library development and technology; providing
information services to state government; ensuring adequate library services to
special populations, including a large rural population, people with disabilities,
and Native American communities; and administering a program of grants,
consulting, training, and technical assistance to libraries statewide. MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS: A Master's Degree in Library or Information Science
from an ALA-accredited library school and at least five years progressively
responsible experience in library administration. Experience with budget
preparation and justification, personnel, the legislative process, and innovative
long range planning is highly desirable. Salary range $52,000 to $62,400 per
year. Review of applications will begin on March 21, and will continue until
the position is filled. Applicants must submit a letter of application and résumé
to: Ruben A. Smith, Secretary, New Mexico Office of Cultural Affairs, 228
East Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501.

Library assistant. The Vista Grande Public Library, located next to
Eldorado Elementary School in Santa Fe County, is accepting applications for a
part-time library assistant specializing in services to young people. Duties are
to respond to patron inquiries in person, over the phone, and by e-mail; help
library users locate and use library resources; assist users with the online
library catalog, PCs, and other library equipment; help plan, prepare, and
perform a variety of programs for young people, in and out of the library;
design hand-outs, decorate youth services room, make displays, as needed;
inform library users of library policy, as required; and check for needed
materials on shelves. Bachelor's degree related to youth services preferred and
either a New Mexico State Library Grade I certificate or equivalent course work
and have experience working with youth. Computer literacy required. Previous
experience working with children and young adults in a library setting is highly
desirable. Also preferred is experience working with volunteers. This position
involves weekend and evening hours. Must have a valid New Mexico driver's

license, or the ability to obtain one in accordance with state law. To
apply, please submit a letter of application and a résumé with three references
to: Search Committee, Vista Grande Public Library, 7 Avenida Vista Grande,
B7-192, Santa Fe, NM 87508-9199. Deadline is February 28.

© 2002 New Mexico State Library
Send Comments & Questions about this site to [email protected]

Hit Counter