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MESILLA - Public reaction Thursday to the opening of the first branch of the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, and the first public library in Mesilla, was favorable - and then some.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house was supposed to start at 4 p.m. Thursday at the San Andres Public Library, 2355 Avenida de Mesilla. Although the ribbon-cutting didn't happen until the second hour of the event, the first books checked out of the branch library, at the north end of San Andres High School, were made by 4:10 p.m.
"They're going to be seeing a lot of me here," said Dolores Beerman, a Las Cruces resident who lives about a mile from the new branch library, and checked out two books.
Beerman said she intends to be a regular at the San Andres Library because it's too far from her southwest Las Cruces home to the Branigan Memorial Library, just north of City Hall. After years of discussions among officials with the city of Las Cruces, Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS), and the town of Mesilla, an agreement was reached this fall to open a branch library in Mesilla. Opening branch libraries in neighborhoods where public schools are located has been a quality-of-life issue Las Cruces and Mesilla residents have wanted for a long time.
"What a great day. I'm so excited," said Lynette Schurdevin, administrator of Branigan Memorial Library. "It's going to be a real help for kids who use San Andres as intentional educational site."
Stan Rounds, LCPS superintendent, said the branch library's opening was a "momentous first step."
"We're delighted to have this joint venture," Rounds said. "...And this isn't the only one (branch library opening). We're going to do others."
Las Cruces Public Service Director Lori Grumet, who was Branigan's top administrator before being promoted to her current position, said the next branch library could open at the new high school under construction near the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum.
It could even grow from there. The Las Cruces City Council and the Do-a Ana County Board of Commissioners will discuss the possibilities of opening libraries at community centers throughout the county when the two elected bodies meet Jan. 20 for a joint work session.
The new library is in the older portion of San Andres High School, in an area that used to serve as the cafeteria. But the area has been remodeled and shelves of books, reference materials and periodicals are available. Schurdevin said if books aren't available at the branch but are at Branigan Memorial Library, they can be transferred to the branch. Much like the selections that can be found in a cafeteria, Schurdevin and San Andres administrators joked about the reference of the new branch library as a "libreteria."
But Rounds said the future benefits of the branch library should be taken seriously.
"At the end of the day, everybody wins," Rounds said. "(Opening the branch library) is the right thing to do."
Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452
The library expands
•The first branch for Branigan Memorial Library, and the first public library in Mesilla, opened to the public Thursday.
•The San Andres Public Library, at San Andres High School, 2355 Avenida de Mesilla, is now open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays.
•A Branigan Memorial Library card will be needed to check out books at the branch library.
•Library cards can be obtained at San Andres Public Library or at Branigan Library, 200 E. Picacho Ave.
•Branch library patrons should only enter through the northeast door at San Andres High School, adjacent to the school's parking lot.
•Public parking for the branch library is also available at Mesilla Town Hall, 2231 Avenida de Mesilla.
•Information: (575) 528-4000. People who have impaired hearing can call (575) 528-4008.
