About Us

The Villanueva Library lies in the village of Villanueva in the community of El Valle, New Mexico.  This historic New Mexico valley was developed as part of the San Miguel del Vado Land Grant, and the community remains deeply tied to these historical roots. The Library recognizes the significance of the cultural and historical traditions of the community and acts as an informed voice for preserving and honoring these traditions in shaping the community's future.  The library also shares a strong commitment to sharing, preserving, and showcasing local history and local culture to the community and to the larger region. 

​The Villanueva library provides a unique resource for the people of El Valle, offering information access, free computer and wifi use, and a rich and growing collection of print resources. With over 8000 books catalogued, the library provides everything from recipe books to contemporary political history and fiction. The children's library houses an up to date collection of children's books, from picture to easy reader to juvenile and young adult fiction. We are also actively building a Southwest Collection that features both fiction and non-fiction resources.   
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The Villanueva David Cargo library is part of the  El Valle Community Center, a 501c3 non-profit serving the El Valle region.  

Mission and Vision

The mission of the Villanueva David F. Cargo Library is to provide resources for learning and exploration that will enable community members of all ages to educate themselves and thrive.  ​Our goal is to improve the quality of life of our rural community by providing a space that encourages community members of all ages to gather, engage, celebrate, and learn. 
The library shares a strong commitment with the Community Center of preserving the local history and local culture of the valley in order to foster community identity, sustainability, and cohesion. 

 Volunteers &  Staff

deb seavey, founder, advisor 

Deb’s keen interest in a wide range of fields, from anthropology to art, made her an ardent appreciator of books. This commitment motivated her to act as a key player in the library's early days and helped establish  the library at the El Valle Community Center. Deb gave tirelessly to all aspects of library work, from painting walls to cataloging books.  Her efforts and good nature helped create the inspiration that continues to move the library forward.
When she was not working at the library, Deb continued to work on the house she had built on the mesa overlooking the village of Villanueva.

eva artschwager, director

Eva joined the library as a volunteer consultant in 2017.  Her academic background gives her a keen love of book and information resources,  which continue to play a  large part in her life and career.  She taught writing and history for the UNM branch campus in Los Alamos and worked for several years for the NM Department of Information Technology in the area of digital inclusion. She is a strong advocate for all issues related to equity, and a passionate believer in supporting local food and preserving local resources and cultures. 
Eva has a deep love of New Mexico and its rugged beauty. In addition to her work at the Community Center and library, she served as an acequia commissioner for years. She is currently a member of the San Miguel County Planning and Zoning Advisory Board.

Christopher marquez, library advisory board

JIM BALLARD, library advisory board

katherine bueler, library advisory board