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DIRECTIONS
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From Santa Fe or Espanola, take Highway 285/84 north. Stay on Highway 84 north to State Road 554. Turn right on SR 554, drive about 12 miles to El Rito. Turn right on County Road 215. The El Rito Library is about 1.5 miles down on the right. For maps, click here.
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STAFF
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J. Lynett Gillette, Executive Director Jaye Buros, Children's Programs Robin Moore, Graphics/Librarian Carole Smith, Librarian Kathy Sutherland-Bruaw, Librarian Walter Declerck, Bookkeeper Gabriel Lopez. Grounds & Maintenance Cecilia Lopez, Housekeeping/Librarian's Aide |
BOARD
MEMBERS |
Ted Martinez (Emeritus Mbr.)
Desiree Maestas Sid Gudes Dave Warren Lynne Gudes Gloria McFarland |
 Betsy McIntosh
LIBRARY HISTORY
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Andy R. Lopez
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The library room that is our Children's Room was originally built in the 1930s as Placitas Middle School. Later a three room WPA adobe structure was added and later a community room, kitchen space, and rest rooms. In 1969, when students moved into new facilities, our building housed the El Rito Headstart Program and the Rio Arriba Senior Citizens Center. On May 5, 1986, Las Clinicas del Norte Director Andy R. Lopez and professional librarian Betsy McIntosh (1918-2001) established the El Rito Public Library. The library occupied one room. Other rooms housed the senior center and the clinic. The Senior Citizens Center moved out after a new Community Center was built in El Rito.
On February 1, 2000, a Grand Opening of the "new" library was held after extensive renovations were made. Renovations were supported by a capital-improvement grant from the New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps, supplemental funding from the Los Alamos Foundation, and an outpouring of volunteers and community donations. Through the following years more improvements were made thanks to significant grants from the Helen and Will Webster Foundation and Lowe's.
On February 1, 2000, a Grand Opening of the "new" library was held after extensive renovations were made. Renovations were supported by a capital-improvement grant from the New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps, supplemental funding from the Los Alamos Foundation, and an outpouring of volunteers and community donations. Through the following years more improvements were made thanks to significant grants from the Helen and Will Webster Foundation and Lowe's.