October marks American Archives Month, a time when institutions across the United States highlight the importance of archives and the work of archivists. The New Mexico State Library participated in this year’s observance with several activities aimed at raising awareness about archival resources and professional development.
At the start of October, staff from both the New Mexico State Library and the State Records Center and Archives created a joint display in the Caruthers Building. The exhibit introduced visitors to basic archival concepts, such as “records,” “provenance,” and “ephemera,” and offered tips for preserving family documents. Another section highlighted professional development materials available at the library, including books like “Alone in the Stacks” and volumes from the Archival Fundamentals series. These materials are part of a collection funded by the New Mexico Library Association that can be checked out or consulted in person.
The display will remain open to visitors until late November.
On October 20th, 2025, the State Records Center and Archives held its second annual Archival Oddities event at Meow Wolf. This gathering brought together repositories from Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and northern New Mexico to share details about their collections with colleagues and attendees. At its table, the New Mexico State Library showcased unique items from its Southwest Collection as well as past issues of El Palacio magazine. The library also engaged visitors with a Jeopardy-style quiz on state history while promoting free services available to all residents—such as Family Passes, access to The New York Times subscription, and information on next summer’s reading program theme: “Unearth a Story.”
In addition, since September, NMSL’s Tribal Libraries Program has coordinated an online series titled “Ask an Archivist: How to Care for Indigenous Materials.” Through five live sessions running until February 2026, libraries holding indigenous materials can receive expert advice on best practices for handling these sensitive collections.
“Preserve Your Family Archive” display by Sean Dickerson, SRCA Senior Archivist.“Professional Development Resources for Archivists” display by Ada Negraru, NMSL Continuing Education Coordinator.At the beginning of the month, staff at the New Mexico State Library and the State Records Center and Archives installed a joint display in the Caruthers Building upstairs lobby. The two-window display familiarizes visitors and staff with the world of archives, their place in everyday life, and what professional resources are available to archivists. The display explains commonly used terms such as “records,” “provenance,” “ephemera,” and includes tips for preserving family archives. The second half of the display focuses on resources for archivists and librarians available at the New Mexico State Library and beyond. Books such as “Alone in the Stacks” and the five volumes of the Archival Fundamentals series are part of the Archives and Archivists Professional Development Collection acquired with funds from the New Mexico Library Association. Held by NMSL, the collection is available for check-out or consultation in-person or can be requested via interlibrary loan.
Librarians Marcy Botwick and Ada Negraru staffing the NMSL table at the Archival Oddities event at Meow Wolf.On October 20th, 2025, the State Records Center and Archives organized an event Archival Oddities: Misfits and Mysteries in Collections as part of an ongoing series begun last year.
Started in September and coordinated by NMSL’s Tribal Libraries Program,“Ask an Archivist: How to Care for Indigenous Materials” hosts five live online sessions where libraries holding indigenous materials learn how best to manage them through direct Q&A with experts.
