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The Thomas Branigan Memorial Library in Las Cruces, New Mexico, stuns against the mountain landscape. The exterior is all curves and soft corners, painted brick red with turquoise lettering. We came to Las Cruces at the invitation of Carol Brey. Brey served as the 2004-05 president of the 91´«Ã½, leading 91´«Ã½ during the crisis presented by the USA PATRIOT Act. Passed in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, this legislation expanded the government’s domestic surveillance authority and included specific provisions requiring librarians to share patron borrowing and internet search histories with law enforcement. Brey was subject to such a challenge, and shared her story in in 2010. It was fascinating to talk with Brey about the challenge of leading with our values when those same values are under attack.

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Brey serves as Quality of Life Director for the city of Las Cruces and the library falls under her purview. In addition to talking with her, we filmed the interior and exterior of the building, interviews with library staff, foundation board members, members of the friends group, city council members, and a conversation with Eric Enriquez, the mayor of Las Cruces. Enriquez talked about the central role the library plays in the development of the city, making clear the role a strong library can play in attracting people to the community. With its programming and outreach, physical and digital collections, and space for community events, Thomas Branigan is a clear asset to the city. And like so many public libraries, expansion is crucial—the library footprint has not grown even as the population has doubled in size. Every stakeholder understood this need—now, the work of getting it done.

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Mileage: 0

Soundtrack: The birds of Las Cruces

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