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Sign is up next to the Fire Station!
History of the Library
The Placitas Community Library is a result of grassroots effort
to establish a permanent library in Placitas. We believe that our
library is an essential building block in developing a sense of
community pride and spirit.
The library opened on March 1, 2004. The temporary rented building
is in a 1200 square foot building just west of the Homesteads Shopping
Center and is provided at minimal rent by Pepi Strahl, a resident
of Placitas. Local talent, skills and materials transformed this
garage into a workable library which opened in March of 2004. Furniture
and books for the opening were donated from libraries in Roswell
and Los Alamos.
In 2003 the library incorporated and the IRS approved our non-profit
status on March 1, 2005. In the meantime in 2004, the library received
“developing library” status from the New Mexico State Library system.
The library operates with volunteer help and currently has 32 volunteers
including four certified librarians. Since Placitas is an unincorporated
village with no tax base, The Friends of the Placitas Library raise
all of the library's operating funds.
The Library provides important services, internet access, interlibrary
loan and copier/fax use. Patronage has doubled in the past year.
The collection has rapidly expanded, now exceeding 14,000 items
and 1,000 CDs, DVDs, audiotapes, large print and Spanish language
books. The popular children's programs struggle to find any workable
space. The local community population is growing quickly due to
a high rate of housing development. The need for an adequate facility
is urgent; the current building is bursting at its seams.
Placitas Community Library Funding 2007
Library Funding – 2007
Basic operational expenses come from your donations:
Friends of the Library Annual Memberships
Annual Dinner and Silent Auction
Albuquerque Road Runners annual 10K run
Jardinaros de Placitas (children's programs)
County General Obligation Bond – 4-year bond starting July 1, 2007
$129,000 (cannot be used for construction or basic operations)
NM State General Obligation Bond –2-year bond starting July 1, 2007
$16,000 (cannot be used for construction or basic operations)
NM State Library Development Grant – 2007
$1,305 (cannot be used for construction or basic operations)
National Endowment for the Humanities - We the People Foundation
Bookshelf - a program that encourages young people to read classic
books and explore themes in American history, culture, and ideas.
2007 Grant from the American Library Association in conjunction
with the National Endowment for the Humanities.
This year's theme is "Pursuit of Happiness."
This is the second year in a row that PCL has been awarded this
grant!
Donations
The library staff and the library board are all volunteers. All
operating expenses are funded by community donations through fund
raising efforts of the Friends of the Library
Placitas Community Library Construction Funding 2007
The Kerr Foundation
$10,000 2:1 Challenge Grant for library construction – We are happy
to report the challenge has been met! Fidelity National Title Company
has donated $2,000 on behalf of their local office and the Karakin
Foundation has pledged $18,000.
Dept of Housing and Urban Development
$346,500 Economic Development Initiative Special Projects Grant
for the construction of the Placitas Community Library
State of New Mexico
$550,000 from the State Legislature for the construction of the
Placitas Community Library
Sandoval County
$80,000 for purchase of 4 acres of land for the library acquired
from Tom Ashe
State of New Mexico
$145,000 for furniture and equipment for the new library
The Library has initiated a capital campaign committee for additional
funds. If you are interested in participating on the committee or
making a donation please contact: Judy Labovitz, 867-3350
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