Librarys Southwest Room showcase of regional works

Staff photo: Tony Bullocks Clovis-Carver Public Library Director Margaret Hinchee displays some of her favorites book Thursday from the Librarys Southwest room.

By Aubry Buzek Correspondent

In the Clovis-Carver Public Library, tucked down a long hallway just past the fireplace, is the Southwest Room.

In this quiet room one will find a desk, historic maps hanging on the walls and many shelves of books devoted to preserving the stories and voices of the region.

Its important to show how proud we are of the part of the world we live in, said Margaret Hinchee, the library director. And its nice to have it separated into this collection because then people wanting to research anything in the Southwest can just come in here.

Some of the expected titles in the room are related to cattle, railroads, travel guides and regional art, but this room also features books that preserve diverse voices and debate politically charged subjects such as border patrol, water politics and crime.

One intriguing title a library patron may stumble upon is by anthropologist Alice Marriott, written in 1953 The cow business is a damn fine business for men and mules, but its Hell on Horses and Women.

I think in addition to the history of the Southwest we have a commitment to the history of the founding of this part of the country, and I dont think people realize that our collection is that diverse, Hinchee said.

Some of the most frequently checked out books in the room are travel guides, picture books and tales of ghost towns, she said. But for her personally, a particular kind of book stands out.

One of the things that I have checked out of here are biographies of people who have traveled the Santa Fe Trail. And I think thats kind of fascinating, Hinchee said. I think I was a pioneer in a former life.

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Librarys Southwest Room showcase of regional works