CELEBRATE CONSTITUTION AND CITIZENSHIP DAY EVERY DAY, NOT JUST SEPT. 17TH

By Maryam Ahranjani

THE THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT THAT NEVER WAS

By Brandon Johnson
The 13th Amendment, guaranteeing the abolition of chattel slavery in the United States, is one of the crown jewels of the American Constitution.

LIBRARIES AS FOUNDATIONS OF DEMOCRACY: UPHOLDING THE FREEDOM TO LEARN

By Val Nye
Proponents of intellectual freedom and supporters of libraries should plan to join in the various celebrations happening in New Mexico to honor the work communities and library workers do to retain intellectual freedom rights for all Americans.

SPAIN AND THE U.S. WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

By Eloy García
As we approach the U.S. Semiquincentennial of July 4, 2026 I think it is important that we in New Mexico reflect on the influence the Spanish Empire had on ensuring the success of the British colonist “War of Independence.”

CELLPHONES IN SCHOOLS: THE UNSPOKEN BROADER IMPLICATIONS

By Charity Darkwa
“This concludes that students treasure their social media interactions, games, and other cellphone activities over academics and intellectual pursuits.”

DOROTHY B. HUGHES: A FEMINIST ICON, AN ICON FOR WRITERS

By Monika Dziamka
“When the search gets tough, and the professional identity crisis again looms nigh, I remind myself of the extraordinary career of Dorothy B. Hughes, a woman, mother, and writer who helped solidify New Mexico’s literary legacy not just in the United States, but around the world as well.”

CULTURE ALSO COMES IN THROUGH THE KITCHEN

By Teresa Dovalpage
“Here in Hobbs, where I currently live, the Cuban community, very small when we moved here seven years ago, is growing fast.”

RUDOLFO ANAYA’S MAGIC WITH WORDS

By Chris Chaves
“It seems that, for Anaya at least, libraries and the magical words hidden in their books can serve to impart knowledge, facilitate love, and encourage empathy about others.”

ECOLINGUISTICS AND HOW LANGUAGE CAN SAVE THE WORLD

By Monika Dziamka
“It’s hard to talk about gender, equality, and equity without also talking about issues surrounding sustainability and the environment—which in turn relate to issues of power, colonialism, and capitalism.”

SO MANY BILLY THE KID STORIES — ANY LESSONS IN THEM?

By Richard Etulain
“What has happened in interpretations of Billy the Kid should awaken us to important thoughts about storytelling.”