Thomas Branigan Memorial Library
| Thomas Branigan Memorial Library | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Location | 200 E. Picacho Avenue, Las Cruces, New Mexico |
| Established | 1935 |
| Collection | |
| Size | 160,000 [1]: 9 |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 428,498 [1]: 10 |
| Population served | 86,028 (legal service area) 170,500 (total served) [1]: 2 |
| Members | 77,761 [1]: 10 |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $2,238,832 [1]: 6 |
| Director | Kathleen Teaze |
| Employees | 35 FTE [1]: 4 |
| Website | http://library.las-cruces.org/ |
Thomas Branigan Memorial Library is the public library serving Las Cruces, New Mexico.
History
The library was founded in 1935 and a library building constructed at 106 W. Hadley (now 501 N. Main Street) as the result of a bequest from Mrs. Alice Branigan in memory of her husband Capt. Thomas Branigan. [2]: 68–69 [3]: 1 Its immediate predecessor was the Woman's Improvement Association library founded in 1924; this library was disbanded in 1935 when the Branigan library opened and its collection became the core of the Branigan collection. [3]: 1
The current 36,800 square foot [1]: 1 library building at 200 E. Picacho Avenue was constructed in 1979 [2] : 93 on the site of the former Lucero School (1942-1963). [4]: 2 The architects were Dean and Hunt Associates Ltd of Albuquerque. The building was dedicated December 9, 1979 [4] The 1935 library building is now the Branigan Cultural Center [2]: 8 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 1979 library was constructed in two floors, with the collection on the first floor and offices and work areas on the second floor. Beginning in 2008 part of the collection was moved to the second floor. [5] The library is running out of space and is looking at plans for expansion and the opening of branch libraries. [6] [7]
Carol A. Brey-Casiano, the Library Director from 1996 to 2000, was president of the American Library Association for 2004–2005. [8]
Services
Library cards are free to residents of Doña Ana County. Card holders can check out book, audio books, compact discs, videos, art prints, and magazines. [9]
Summer Reading Programs have been running since 1972[3]: 2 and attract bout 600 to 800 children each year. [10] A homebound delivery program began in 1973. [3]: 2 Two bookmobiles were purchased in 1975 [3] and service continued until 2008 when they were replaced by a books-by-mail program. [10]
Regular art exhibits are held in the Terrace Gallery on the library's second floor. [10]
The library's weekly news column, "Branigan Book Notes", appears on Sundays in Las Cruces Sun-News, and a monthly column, "Greater Words & Things", appears monthly in The Ink, a free tabloid covering the arts.
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g
"Thomas Branigan Memorial Library: 2005 New Mexico Public Library Annual Report" (PDF). City of Las Cruces. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b c Harris, Linda G. One Book at a Time: The History of the Library in New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Library Foundation. ISBN 9781887045032. OCLC 38324662.
- ^ a b c d e
Thomas Branigan Memorial Library: A History 1935-1977. no publisher. 1977. OCLC 4755777.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ a b
Foreshaw, Louise (2001). Our First 25 Years: 1976-2001. Las Cruces, NM: Friends of the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library. OCLC 50158282.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "TBML's Big Move!". City of Las Cruces. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^
Studio D-Hidell (2007-01-07). "Thomas Branigan Public Library" (PDF). City of Las Cruces. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^
Studio D-Hidell (2007-01-08). "Thomas Branigan Public Library: Space Needs and Master Plan" (PDF). City of Las Cruces. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^
"Brey-Casiano elected president; Switzer is new treasurer. (News Fronts ALA)". American Libraries. 34 (6). American Library Association: 8. 2003. ISSN 0002-9769.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Thomas Branigan Memorial Library: Library Information". City of Las Cruces. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ a b c Moore, S. Derrickson (2008-06-08). "Read all about it: Myriad summer programs at Branigan Library encourage picking up a good book". Las Cruces Sun-News. ISSN 1081-2172.