A Day of Advocacy, Community, and Hope at the Capitol

The 2026 New Mexico Library Legislative Day was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when librarians, educators, authors, and advocates show up together with a shared purpose.

More than 60 participants gathered on Friday, January 30, at the Santa Fe Public Library’s Southwest Room, representing public, school, academic, and tribal libraries, along with educators and community advocates from across the state. During the briefing, speakers walked participants through key legislation in the current session, including:

• HB26, SB45, and SB65, the three Freedom to Read bills, are still awaiting inclusion on the Governor’s agenda.

• SB49, which would create a parent committee to rate books like movies.

• SB61, SB62, and SB99, advancing the New Mexico Rural Library Endowment.

• The General Obligation Bond, which funds significant parts of library services statewide.

The discussion was practical and candid, but the tone was unmistakably hopeful. The group then made its way to the Capitol Rotunda, where we connected with other organizations, exchanged information, and quickly distributed all 120 Freedom to Read yellow bookmarks, a visible sign of interest and momentum. We were especially heartened to be joined by students from Santa Fe Indian School, who added their voices and presence to the day’s advocacy.

Around 10:30 a.m., Julie Radoslovich, aide to Senator Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez, met with advocates on the floor and guided a small group to the Senator’s office. From there, the group continued upstairs to the Governor’s Office to meet with Caroline Buerkle, Cabinet Affairs Director.

During that meeting, Coalition members shared a one-page overview of the three Freedom to Read bills and explained why they matter so deeply for New Mexico right now. The conversations were both personal and policy-focused. For example, the costly and prolonged Las Cruces book challenge of 2023 occurred at Director Buerkle’s alma mater, and its impact was clear.  Although Michelle Lujan Grisham was in Washington, D.C., the group gathered for a photo outside the Office of the Governor, marking the moment and the progress made.

Authors Laurie Goodluck, Zahra Marwan, and Khadijah Van Brackle were also part of the day’s advocacy. Laurie Goodluck and Khadijah Van Brackle immediately set out across the Capitol, visiting legislative offices between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. to invite lawmakers to the February 4 action deadline and encourage their support for the Freedom to Read bills.

After the meeting at the Governor’s Office concluded around noon, advocacy continued. Coalition members met with Senate Education Committee members, and conversations carried on throughout the building. Additional follow-ups are underway to capture the full scope of those meetings and next steps.

The day was full of collaboration, visibility, and real progress. It demonstrated that the Freedom to Read coalition is organized, credible, and growing.

We also have a clear next step: The deadline to contact the Governor has moved to February 4. If you have not called the Governor's office yet or shared the Coalition call to action by email with your members, constituents, and networks, now is the time. Every message matters, and this final push can make the difference in getting the Freedom to Read bills included on the call.

The day at the Capitol showed what we can do together. Let’s keep building a future where New Mexico protects and affirms the right to read and funds its libraries. 

Speakers' Gallery

NMLA Board Member, meeting moderator	NMLA Vice President and librarian
New Mexico State Librarian	Freedom to Read New Mexico chair and children's book author
Director of Public Libraries in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County	New Mexico Rural Library Initiative Director
NMLA Board member, School Library Special Interest Group speaker, charter school librarian	New Mexico Consortium of Academic Libraries speaker