PRESIDENT NYGREN SIGNS GRANT TO SUPPORT TORREON LIBRARY TO FUND NEW BOOKS, ACTIVITIES, AND FURNITURE
In a push to inspire other Chapters on the reservation to open libraries, the Navajo Nation Library and Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren are working together to secure funding for Torreon Library.
On December 9, President Nygren signed a grant for $15,363.84 from the New Mexico Rural Library Program fund for the library in Torreon, N.M. which is also a new branch to the Navajo Nation Library.
Home to about 200 people, Torreon lacks activities for both youth and elders, and Torreon Library Director Martina Martinez believes that improving the library with the grant could bring positive change.
“There aren't a lot of places out here because there’s no community centers or youth centers or things like that,” said Martinez. “The library would be a place where we could do those things.”
A faculty member at Navajo Technical University has been donating textbooks to the library for students in need. Martinez aims to expand partnerships like that with NTU with other colleges and programs to bring more resources to youth and elders in Torreon and get new furniture and funding full-time employees.
With help of Navajo Nation Library funding the library and President Nygren signing of the grant, they are operating at 36 hours a week.
“The great hope is that we can set up a library at every chapter,” said Donovan Pete, Navajo Nation Library Director. “There has been a shift I’ve been doing with the Navajo Nation Library and instead of being a place of books, it’s a community hub.”
Pete said the Torreon library has not been fully operating for five to six years and decided to tackle the challenge of getting even more library branches with the Navajo Nation library.
“The unique thing with tribal libraries is that there isn’t a curriculum, there isn’t anyone trying tell us how we need to act,” said Pete. “So for us, a lot of what we try to do is trying to focus on Diné k’éechi (the Navajo way) and do a lot with language and culture.”