Alamogordo Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alamogordo Public Library |
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| Established | 1900 |
| Location | 920 Oregon Avenue, Alamogordo, New Mexico 88310 |
| Coordinates | 32°53′56.59″N 105°56′40.33″W / 32.8990528°N 105.9445361°W |
| Collection | |
| Size | 112,000 (2007) |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 250,875 (2007) |
| Population served | 54,772 |
| Members | 26,022 (2007) |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $900,000 |
| Director | Sharon Rowe |
| Staff | 14 FTE |
The Alamogordo Public Library is the main public library for Alamogordo, New Mexico, and Otero County, New Mexico. This library has many books in Spanish and German. It also has special materials about the Western writer Eugene Manlove Rhodes.
Contents
History of the Library
The Alamogordo Public Library first opened its doors on March 1, 1900.
How the Library Started
Alamogordo was a special town because it was carefully planned. The people who planned it, Charles Bishop Eddy and John Arthur Eddy, believed a library was very important for the community. They gave money to the Alamogordo Woman's Club to help them start the library.
Over time, the library's ownership changed. It first went to the Alamogordo Library Association, then to the Civic League. The Civic League owned the library until 1958. They then sold it to the City of Alamogordo for just one dollar.
Library Buildings Over Time
For many years, the library was located in different rented rooms. But in 1962, a special building was built just for the library. This building is located at 920 Oregon Avenue. It was about 10,280 square feet and cost $175,000 to build.
In 1987, the library building was made much larger. Its size was doubled to about 20,764 square feet. This expansion cost $871,042.
In 2001, a piece of land next to the library was given to the city. The plan was to build a new, even bigger library there, about 40,000 square feet. However, special elections in 2005 and 2009 to get money for the new building did not pass.
Library Services and Programs
The Alamogordo Public Library is owned by the city. However, library cards are free for everyone who lives in Otero County, New Mexico. The county government helps pay for this service every year.
What You Can Find at the Library
The library has about 112,000 items in its collection. These include books, videos, compact discs, and magazines. There are many books in Spanish and German. This is because the German Air Force has a training center at Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo. Many German families live in the city.
The library also offers "inter-library loan" services. This means you can ask for materials that are usually found at other public libraries. These can include books, copies, music CDs, and DVDs. In 1995, the library started using a computer system to keep track of its collection. By 2004, you could search the library's catalog online from home.
Computers and Internet Access
The library has 12 computers for adults and 6 computers for children. These computers are free for library visitors to use. They offer Internet access and programs like Microsoft Office. The children's computers also have fun educational games. The library also offers free wireless Internet, or WiFi, for everyone.
Programs for Kids and Families
The children's Summer Reading Program happens every year. During the summer, there are fun entertainment programs. Prizes are given to the children who read the most books. In 2007, almost 1,500 children joined this program.
Home Delivery Service
The library also has a special program for people who cannot easily come to the library. This "homebound delivery" program offers free selection and delivery of books to their homes. This service works with the Alamogordo Senior Center.
Special Features and Collections
The Story Book Wall
The Story Book Wall is a unique feature at the library. It has 247 tiles that show pictures from children's books. These tiles are on the wall near the Children's Library. Local schoolchildren created the original drawings in 1963. These drawings were then copied onto the tiles. The local chapter of the American Association of University Women helped make this project happen.
The Eugene Manlove Rhodes Room
The Eugene Manlove Rhodes Room was added during the 1987 expansion. This room holds the library's special collection of books and materials about the Southwest. Inside the room, you can see a bank teller wall from an old bank in Vaughn, New Mexico. There are also old desks and furniture from the early 1900s.
In 1958, the Civic League bought a collection of materials about Eugene Manlove Rhodes. They gave these to the library. This collection includes books, letters, newspaper clippings, magazines, and some original writings. These items, along with others collected by a past library director, have been copied and scanned. Researchers can now easily access them on computers.
See also
In Spanish: Biblioteca pública de Alamogordo para niños
