Los Alamos County Library Board April 2025 Update

Published on April 09, 2025

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – that’s right, April 6-12 is National Library Week! We appreciate our wonderful libraries and library staff all year round, but this week is an especially good time to share the library love. You can visit Mesa Public Library or the White Rock Branch Library to pick up a sticker featuring iconic literary quotes and book-themed designs. You’ll also see opportunities at both branches to contribute to interactive boards sharing stories about what draws you to the library.

Los Alamos County Council also designated April 6-12 as “National Library Week in Los Alamos” at the April 8 council meeting. Their proclamation highlighted the role our library plays as a trusted institution within our community, working tirelessly to ensure equitable access to a diverse range of information and services for all community members.

Our library consistently receives praise from the community. For example, in the county’s 2024 National Community Survey, the ratings for public library services surpassed national benchmarks. As a community that values library services, it’s important to be aware of actions that could jeopardize these services. On March 31, 2025, most staff at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal agency that provides grants to libraries and museums across the country, were put on administrative leave, with the cancellation of grants and contracts likely to follow. $1.8 million dollars in funding to New Mexico is now in jeopardy. While our library system is fortunate to have strong support from the county which will help us weather these funding cuts, the cuts could have dramatic impacts on small public libraries across the state. If you would like to learn more about this situation, we encourage you to visit the American Library Association’s (ALA) website. The ALA is the world’s largest and oldest library association, promoting libraries and library education.

There will be no Library Board meeting in May. The next Library Board meeting will be June 2, 2025 at the Municipal Building. Please email the Library Board at lb@lacnm.us if you have questions or suggestions. This email will reach all board members: Beth Stelle (Chair), Michele Altherr (Vice Chair), Frances Knudson, Brian Reardon, and Sarah Work.