Chautauqua visit: The Foot Runners of the Sierra Madre

Photo Credit: Diana Molina

Foot Runners of the Sierra Madre at Ruidoso Public Library

Thursday, October 10, at 4 pm, Ruidoso Public Library hosts Diana Molina presenting a Chautauqua of Raramuri culture.  Raramuri is their own name for themselves; you have have heard them called Tarahumara.  If long-distance running, barefoot, or minimalist running appeal to you, check out this program.  Ms Molina will explore several topics: ethnography, anthropology, scientific research, running, modernity impacting culture, and the specific Sierra Madre Occidental canyon environment of northern Mexico.  Molina will share her stunning photographs taken while living among the tribe for extended periods of time.

Diana Molina

These photographs were the focus of an exhibit in 2012 at the University of Texas-El Paso’s Centennial Museum, called Rarámuri, The Foot Runners of the Sierra Madre. The images range from Matachines and Semana Santa to agriculture and the racing tradition.  Molina hopes to raise awareness of balancing lifestyle and habitat as much as appreciate the “unique and exceptional Raramuri tribe.”

Diana Molina is a photographer and writer, and director of Juntos Art Association, which focuses on youth outreach and art collaboration.  Her photographs have graced the halls of The World Museum of Art in Rotterdam, The Art Museum of the Americas in Washington, DC, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. 

If you are a marathoner, swap training plans with our library director, Corey Bard.  Ruidoso Public Library has several books on distance running, training, and Native American cultures.  Please ask a librarian for assistance finding these and other, newer, online materials.  

More in Universal Class: Health

Maybe you visited the Village's health fair last month?  The library had a table loaded with flyers and posters and bookmarks on the different ways the library can help you understand and explore health issues.  If you didn't, this blogpost is an excellent alternative because much of the same material is below.  As a library, we are not health experts and cannot advise.  We can connect you with the county health office [575-258-3252], the state's nursing hotline [ 1(877) 725-2552], or other reliable sources of information.  As with legal questions, please visit us at the library and let us know if you would like a little more privacy (such as the Archive Room) to ask your questions, or reach out to us through email.

Outside of the articles, nursing specific, and direct-from-the-government's National Institute of Health tutorials, videos, FAQs, and guides, the library provides you access to classes to explore health topics, too.  As mentioned in earlier posts, these classes are free to you, start whenever you are ready, and go as fast or slow as you need.  There may be videos to watch or text to read online (or print and keep for later reference).  The instructor may suggest other sites for further exploration and assignments to help you apply the new knowledge.

This is a list of the more health-focused courses among the 500 available.  Each is a link to open the course (you will need your library barcode number and your email to create an account in order to start).

Yoga 101

Weight Training 101

Weight Loss Management 101

Anti Aging Techniques

Lifetime Wellness

Meditation 101: Learn How to Meditate

Natural Skin Care

Nutrition 101

Therapeutic Bathing 101

Wellness Coaching

Reiki 1st and 2nd Degree

Emotional Healing

Energy Healing

Healing Affirmations 101

Homeopathy 101

Chakra Clearing

Depression Management

Aromatherapy 101

Stress Management 101

One book gaining quiet momentum this year is Susan Cain's Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking.    Cain brings together a wide body of research, from business schools, military officers, and education.  She explores several definitions and situations which enriched my awareness of diversity among the people I meet.  I recommend reading this book if you find yourself stressed by the living-out-loud lifestyle expected in America OR  if you live or work with people you do not understand.  Maybe you, too, will find insight on how to "let yourself be" or how to appreciate the differences (along the spectrum of introversion to extroversion) which make the human experience rich and rewarding.

If you aren't ready to dive into the whole book, her website offers a video introduction (shown below, hopefully) and links to her TED talk, too.

One of my favorite parts of the website is the poster, Raising an introverted child (also below).  How much anxiety or bullying might one alleviate through a little awareness and tolerance?

click image for larger view

To end on a positive note, I'll add the Manifesto for Introverts!

click to enlarge

Thank you!

Ruidoso Public Library is here because of you--your support and your involvement.  

Image by Vernhart

Many of you are so kind when you visit, thanking us, the staff, for doing what we love to do.  Whether this means finding a book, an online resource, learning how to use something, or connecting with a service, we are happy to help.  Your commiserations after an awkward conversation and your compliments really help me (and all of us) keep smiling.

So I just wanted to share my gratitude with you as well!  Thank you!

Here's a video, created by the American Library Association, with authors advocating for libraries.  This may be 'preaching to the choir,' but it might come in as a handy resource to share with someone who isn't in touch with their library.  

Video by the American Library Association

See you at the library!