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Public Libraries of New Mexico

Alamogordo

Still in use, with several of its windows blocked, and with an addition. This was really a pretty building at one point.

 

According to this strangely punctuated F.J. Schaaf card, the city's first library was built in 1898. This iteration came in 1958.

Alamogordo, NM public library
Albuquerque
Albuquerque, NM library

(L) Bedraggled hand-colored card for Fred Harvey.

(R) Unattributed glossy card, also in poor condition.

 

This was actually a subscription library (I have hesitated to include this library form on my site.), replaced in 1923.

Albuquerque, NM library

Served into the 1970s as the Main Library, and now houses the Library's special collections.

 

The 1925 Curt Teich postcard must have been produced shortly after the library building opened.

Albuquerque, NM library in Alamo style
Albuquerque, NM Public Library, with addition

This Petley chrome postcard, mailed in 1963, shows a large addition to the library.

Carlsbad

Caption:

Library and Museum, Carlsbad, New Mexico

 

1937 Curt Teich linen finish postcard. 

 

This building has retained its museum function.

Carlsbad, NM public library on linen card

Caption:

Municipal Library and Museum

 

This building is still in use as a municipal library.

Carlsbad, NM public library on chrome card
Clayton

A WPA project, this building served as Clayton's public library from 1939, but has been replaced. It has been considered endangered.

Photo postcard, producer unknown.

Clayton, NM public library adobe building.
Colmor
Colmor, NM library

Colmor is a true ghost town. Most of the information comes from the blog of Diana Weir.

 

The Colmar Scorosis (spelling as on postcard reverse) Club's eight members obtained a boxcar for its library, paneled it, installed heat, and obtained over a thousand books in 1929. The death of Mrs. Nora F. Dow in 1950 began the decline of the library; and Colmor was abandoned by 1956.

According to commenter Joseph Caldwell, his family bought the boxcar and its contents, and moved it to the family's yard. It was in use by the Caldwells into the 1980s, and its collection passed to the Springer Library. The boxcar, alas, has crumbled into dust.

Deming
Deming, NM Public Library

Replaced in 1972 by the Marshall Memorial Library. Fate unknown.

Small adobe building on a lot which would have barely contained needed wings.

Mailed in 1949. Possibly an L.L. Cook product.

Las Cruces (Thomas Brannigan Memorial Library)

Replaced 1979. Fate unknown.

 

Another F.J. Schaaf postcard.

Thomas Brannigan Memorial Library, Las Cruces, NM
Los Alamos

Combo library and post office. Formed in 1943 as a subscription library; became the Mesa Library in 1945. It seems to be in better digs today.

 

Curt Teich chrome postcard from 1958.

Los Alamos, NM Public Library
Tucumcari

Believe it or not, this is a renovated (1971) post office. Currently, it bears one of the longest library names outside Indiana:

Tucumcari Public Library in Memory of Kenneth Schlientz

This is a continental-size postcard. I have cropped the deckle edge from the scan. Its photo was taken by Lou Candelaria.

Tucumcari (NM) Public Library, in Memory of Kenneth Schlientz

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