Farmington New Mexico Library Volunteering

My relationship with the Farmington Public Library was love at first sight.

I knew I had to volunteer here the moment I walked through the door. The following blogpost is a sneak peak into my (too brief!) time working with the Farmington Public Library & its excellent staff.  The letters included are stolen from an email exchange between the Youth Services Coordinator, Flo Trujillo, and myself.

This photo (and all below it) taken from this library enthusiast's blogpost: Big Blue Globe: Farmington Public Library.
Excerpt from their post:

"Back in 2006, we almost moved to Farmington, New Mexico
just because of this library. We decided that although a good
library is a contributing factor on where to live, it shouldn't
be the only factor. As a result, we decided that
Grand Junction was a better option. However, we visit the
library in Farmington every time we're in the area and
even if the book selection was lousy (it isn't...Lynn says that it
has the best fiber arts collection she's seen), it would be worth
visiting just for the architecture. It was designed by Hidell &

Associates Architects in 2003 and takes into account the local

Navajo heritage by being built in the shape of a kiva. The building
is round and all sections spoke from the center, like a wheel.
It even has markings on the floor marking the summer and
winter solstices, when light will shine in from the ceiling at
these particular times. It's a fantastic library and the people
of Farmington are lucky to have it."

Flo,

I am very excited for MTAC on Thursday.  Some of my crewmates, if not all, will be there.

Byron is a truly excellent guy, yes.  And his passion for the Guys Read project is evident.  I really hope it gets off the ground.  I feel honored to be able to help in the planning stage.

Ah, yes!  I forgot about the Sunday schedule difference.  With crew activities, I might not get much opportunity to come in this weekend and volunteer.  But I am going to keep a close eye on my schedule and try to pop in at some point.  We are doing trail work at Simon Canyon on Saturday and have an afternoon crew activity planned on Sunday, but if I can stop in before 5pm on either day, I will.

I'm glad you like the flyers.  I am waiting to hear from Byron on whether he wants to get my guy crewmates together as a think tank.  Byron said something about his being in on weekdays next week (except Wed.) - Will he be in during the evening hours?

You mentioned: "Another thing... our past Youth Services Librarian is now at Pikes Peak in the Colorado Spring area.  Her name is Barbara Huff, she is a dynamo!  You may want to touch base with her if you are looking to volunteer in a library."  I can barely express how much your sharing of that contact excites me!  I love the library community.  I will certainly have to look her up during my next project round.  Is she working at the public library there?

Below is a quick blurb about my service time at the library & in AmeriCorps NCCC.  Don't hesitate to make any edit, run it by me, & then share away.

All Best,
Sam


Blurb / Press Release:
My name is Samantha Mairson and I am currently a member of AmeriCorps NCCC.  My team, of 10 highly diverse 18-24 year olds, is stationed at the Boys and Girls Club of Farmington.  Our job includes, but is not limited to, the facilitation of activities at the club and the mentoring of local youth.  Though my time here is shorter than I would like (November 10 - December 19), my program prides itself on the flexibility of our crews.  We have the ability to respond immediately to disaster relief work and self-prescribed community needs are the main focus of NCCC.  I am based out of the Southwest Region Campus (Denver, CO) and my NCCC campus serves 8 states.  In addition to the work we do at the Farmington Boys & Girls Club, ECHO Food Bank, and elsewhere, my crewmates and I are challenged to complete 80+ "Independent Service Project" hours.  The hours can be obtained by serving in any of the communities that we are a part of.  A personal goal of mine is to spend 30+ of those hours working with pubic libraries.  I have been and continue to be impressed by the Farmington Public Library.  I was welcomed into the local library family and the time I volunteer there is spent assisting patrons and staff members, program planning and brainstorming, and learning about how a successful library functions.  I hope to one day get a degree in library sciences.  In funding my own education, I have faced many obstacles.  I have learned that education extends immeasurably far outside the classroom.  I have the Farmington Public Library to thank for some of my most recent learning and I hope my relationship with the library extends far into the future.

More on my time here...
I have been so welcomed into this library family that it makes leaving very difficult.  It is December 15, 2012 and my crew departs from the Farmington, NM Boys & Girls Club (down the street from the library) on December 19th (this coming Wednesday).  I sit behind the desk in the youth section of the library.  Beth sits to my left.  She is a jolly spirit.  Employees float by, announcing where they're going.  Beth explains the desk position to me like this: "We're like the captain of the ship.  Everyone tells you where they're going.  In case, for instance, someone calls and needs to know where they're at."

My initial email exchanges with Flo were to coordinate a time for an interview.  That time came the evening before Thanksgiving.  I had the opportunity to speak with her and a prior AmeriCorps VISTA, Byron, that works at the library.  It became immediately clear to me that I had a place at this library and that they would put me to work.  I rejoiced!

Byron is working on a program for the library called Guys Read.  I was invited to join him in the project planning phase.  My first Saturday of library volunteering, I worked with Byron.  He gave me an orientation and introduced me to the Guys Read project.  I spent 6 hours volunteering that Saturday.  After learning more about the project (I recommend visiting the link above!) I could see why he was so passionate about starting a Guys Read program chapter at the Farmington Public Library.  He will kick-start the program here in January.

My initial response included a Facebook post:

Samantha Mairson shared a link.

December 1 

ATTENTION DUDE FRIENDS: Working on new project at Farmington Public Library ---> http://www.guysread.com/about/. Any thoughts on what or who got you reading? Check out the site and let me know what you think, your personal stories, or if you have any relevant ideas. Don't hesitate to comment or message me. I would be so grateful. Thanks guys. — at Farmington Public Library.

GUYS READ | About

www.guysread.com

Our mission is to motivate boys to read by connecting them with materials they will want to read, in ways they like to read.

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Byron Tsabetsaye likes this.

Jeff Bell  

Cool stuff! My mom got me reading above 1st grade level by the end of kindergarten! In 1st grade the teacher told my mom I wasn't paying attention. Mom asked if she realized she wasn't challenging me. Lol Because of my mother's love of reading, I also was bitten by the book worm. During testing in high school I placed the fastest with the highest level of comprehension the teacher had ever seen. Thanks mom. Wonderful woman and obviously a very powerful influence!!

December 1 at 1:18pm via mobile · Like

Tommy Bentley  

My parents definitely were huge factors in getting me reading. I'm glad they did, because I have learned so much from reading. I can't say that I am a big non-fiction reader though, I much prefer fiction. It's definitely too bad that so many guys have this trouble with reading, because it is such an enjoyable and rewarding experience! Unfortunately, I haven't been able to read much in college because I am so busy with various things.

December 1 at 1:56pm · Like

Atticus Woodruff 

Game of thrones. I saw the show and couldn't wait till next season so I read the whole series in a month.

December 1 at 3:39pm via mobile · Like

I helped patrons at the front desk.  I made posters for the Guys Read Program.  I invited Byron to use my guy-AmeriTeammates as a think tank.  I brainstormed about how I could help in the future.  I departed for the day.

I attended the library's December MTAC (Mayor's Teen Advisory Council) Meeting.  I brought my crewmates Steven & Davion with me.  Click here to see the minutes for the meeting.  I tried my first slice of green jalapeño pizza and met a young man who seemed to be passionately interested in applying to AmeriCorps.

  

I spent the next Sunday working with Byron.  I appeared -poof!- out of the blue.  He put me to work on a winter-animals themed display.  I learned to use the di-cut shape press and was encouraged to use my creativity with creating & naming the display (Want to learn about penguins and polar bears?  SNOW Problem!).  I was then given staff lounge holiday treats and free time to roam about the library.

Flash forward to the present: Beth tells me about weeding of the CD collection.  We are in the midst of assisting patrons with a variety of book hunts.  I compose this blog post.

Why do I compose this blogpost?

This is a wonderful place.  It is a model for what modern libraries should be like.  They should, architecturally, represent the community.  Clean, friendly, helpful, organized, well-stocked, inspirational.  The self-checkout system in very impressive.  The staff is engaging, inviting, and eager to help patrons.  The library cards are artistic.  When you get a card, you get to choose a photo (submitted by community members in an annual competition).  Your card grants you access to the magical world of computers and books and cardholding benefits (online volunteer log, ebooks, etc.)  The programs are constant, exciting, & innovative.  The staff is open to receiving eager volunteers, like myself, and enthusiastic about progress.  The good energy is tangible.

When I leave, how will my relationship with this library continue?  I do not exclude the possibility of applying and returning as an AmeriCorps VISTA.  I hope to continue my dialogue with Flo, if ever she should like an AmeriCorps member to speak at MTAC meetings (via Skype) about AmeriCorps & federal service learning opportunities for youth.  As I head off into a world of seemingly endless adventure & library exploration, I want my friends at the Farmington Public Library to know that I have not forgotten them.  I encourage them to engage with me at any point, for any program.  I wholeheartedly support the work that they do & the institution they maintain.

I love the Farmington Public Library.  Wherever I end up living in the long-term, this library has set high standards for what I expect my community library to be.