Of the Sun, A Poem for the Land's First Peoples

Of the Sun, A Poem for the Land's First Peoples
Words by Xelena González
Art by Emily Kewageshig

I stay pretty aware of what I'm listening to when I'm in the car and decide to leave the radio on. Versus locking in on an album or artist to stream while I drive, I still like to enjoy whatever's on the radio dials. I go back and forth from KTEP to KRWG alot and I love listening so it's never routine. On certain occasions there's a voice, or topic being discussed that really catches my attention and stays with me, especially if the conversation is connected to something to follow after. On this particular day, as the sun set out West of El Paso, I listened to Xelena González on tpr.org's Fronteras. At the website the convo is titled 'Of the Sun' encourages young readers to embrace Indigenous roots, ties to the land. After listening to her recite beautiful, powerful poetry, and speak on her literature, and the story of the origins of the book and topics connected to culture, border, identity, heritage, and her experiences, it stayed with me. I made a mental note to learn more about the book, to order the book, and to admire the amazing art by Emily Kewageshig. I've created a list of links below that connect me to this book, of which I look forward to reading and thinking about during this Year of Memory, 2026. 

Fronteras Program: 'Of the Sun' encourages young readers to embrace Indigenous roots, ties to the land CLICK HERE   

Barefoot Books Publishing to purchase Of the Sun, A Poem for the Land's First Peoples CLICK HERE **includes a book trailer.

Xelena González website: CLICK HERE

Emily Kewageshig website: CLICK HERE

Give to your Library

NMSU Library Contributions click here

As an Alumni of New Mexico State University there are a lot of areas I'd like to give back to. Even if it's just the little I can give. There's a lot I took with me being a student involved with the media departments and especially our library system. Every so often it's great to hear about all of the initiatives they're working on, especially the Rio Grande Historical Collections, RGHC, which I just learned added holdings from Bobby and Lee Merril Byrd and the photographers of Ingrid Levya and other 19th and early 20th century photographers of southern New Mexico and the borderlands. With each update, there's many reasons to stay connected to my alma mater, even post graduation. If you feel the same way, here's some steps I'm following to donate:

Visit the NMSU Foundation: click here

Click on Give to University

Select CH-Other and type Rio Grande Historical Collections (RGHC)

Go Aggies! I'll see you soon.

Every Child a Library Member #ECALM

"New Drive to make 'every child' a library card holder"
by Helen McArdle of The Herald

This headline caught my attention. Here are a few notes from the article which you can read at the following link: click here Just thinking of the kinds of campaigns that keep libraries alive and that help others understand their value. While I don't travel much, one day if I do, if I get the chance to do, it will be to see the libraries of the world.

"Pamela Tulloch, chief executive of the Scottish Library & Information Council (SLIC), said it is working with health professionals to promote information on the benefits of library membership to parents as early as during antenatal care."

First time I ever think of the collaboration that can exist between libraries and community health programs.

"It comes as the SLIC and Scottish Government launch a new drive highlighting how library use from as early an age as possible benefits children's language, literacy and social skills."

"...the best present a parent can give a child is a library card. It opens up a world of possibilities and a lifetime of opportunities." - Pamela Tulloch

"We know that preschool children if they use libraries regularly have improved concentration skills, improved language skills, it develops empathy."

"There are over 500 libraries across Scotland which attracted more than 40 million visitors annually pre-pandemic."

"Libraries are still the most popular service that local government provides."

"Libraries have got their full range of child and family programmes up and running so things like book bug for example is a really good opportunity for young children to meet other young children and learn those social skills and how to mix."

"A key part of the initiative will embed opportunities for library membership at three key stages throughout early childhood: birth registration, nursery, and primary school enrollment."

"It's never too early to introduce a child to the joy of reading, and library use from an early age supports language, literacy and well-being." -Neil Gray

"ECALM is a fantastic initiative which will take children on a learning journey which will last for a lifetime."

The image above is from the VisitScotland website of the National Library of Scotland.

Library Card Sign Up

National Library Card Sign Up Month 2023

This month the El Paso Public Library celebrates National Library Card Sign Up Month. This celebration started in 1987. At the ALA website it states that it started "as a response to then Secretary of Education William Bennett, who stated, "Let's have a campaign...Every child should obtain a library card and use it." Library cards provide access to all kinds of free resources. In El Paso, libraries have been in operation for 150 years, a Sesquicentennial milestone that our library is also celebrating this year. It is one of if not the oldest running library system in the state of Texas. 

This month the El Paso Public Library created a limited edition Lucha Libre library card. Five thousand were created for everyone that's interested in obtaining their first library card, renewing or simply anyone interested in upgrading their card with the new design. With over a dozen branches located throughout the city, there are a number of services that a library card can give you access to. I encourage everyone to visit their neighborhood library and get a library card for you and everyone in your family.

I got mine!

#every1reads

WorldCat.org

WorldCat

A comprehensive database of library collections. 15,637 libraries and 512 million bibliographic records. Over 3 billion library assets. The video below notes that over 100 million people utilize this research resource. You can set a profile and categorize your materials as well. It's also a citation engine. The video below also provides information for Indie Authors to know and a topic discussion on getting self published books into the local library system.

I first heard about WorldCat when I was enrolled in my graduate program at NMSU. A friend of mine was using it to search for books and it was something that I too began using to locate certain books. Now that I spend more times day to day with audio books then I do physical ones, I still like to reference physical texts by searching for them locally or regionally through WorldCat. My next step is to set up a profile and to take advantage of this space and time to organize my own personal, academic and professional literary interests.

A link to WorldCat is now visible in the side bar. worldcat.org

Summer Reading 2022

Summer Reading 2022 @ El Paso Public Library

Check it out! This one's to motivate our participants to make time for reading. Also extending the opportunity to any of our incoming 6th graders and other Canyon Hills Middle School Cobras. During the first week of school, for students that submit their certificate of completion for their reading goals we'll have a prize raffle with your name in it. Don't let the summer pass you by without making some time for reading. Here's an active link include in the flier to elpasolibrary.beanstack.com. You can also register in-person at branch libraries.

We'll have copies of this flier available at our Community Chess Connection meetings at the Richard Burges Branch Library up until July 14th.

My Name is Tani

My Name is Tani

"I say to myself that I never lose, that I only learn because when you lose, you have to make a mistake to lose that game. So you learn from that mistake, and so you learn. So losing is a way of winning for yourself."

Need something to read for the summer? You can check out the nonfiction book titled My Name is Tani, and I Believe in Miracles, The Amazing True Story of One Boy's Journey from Refugee to Chess Champion. The text is available at the El Paso Public Library's Chamizal Express and at the Dorris Van Doren Branch. Register for the El Paso Public Library's Summer Reading Club 2022 click here.