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In August of 1996, a group of Capitan citizens
decided the community needed a library - thus an
idea was born and became a reality. In the
beginning the group met on the front porch of a
home with boxes of donated books. When a building
became available, this determined group found the
rent money and the library had a home. The rental
was a store front with 1000 square feet of floor
space. The library quickly outgrew the space, but
money was short. More than once the volunteers paid
the utility and phone bills themselves. With a lot
of hard work, the volunteers incorporated, received
tax-exempt status and became a state recognized
full-service public library. Numerous fundraisers
helped pay the rent and utilities.
In December 2000, a patron gave the library a
generous donation which allowed the Board of
Directors to purchase a building to house the
library. This building more than doubled the floor
space and the seller was willing to carry the
mortgage. In April of 2001, after several months of
renovation, the library opened in the new building.
With a mortgage and larger utility bills, the
volunteers increased fundraising events and began
to search for grants. Grants have allowed the
library to automate the collection, provide
childrens books, conduct special programs for
children and adults and put a new roof on the porch
area. New Mexico State Library provides a
collection grant each year and the Village of
Capitan and Lincoln County give small stipends.
With the receipt of a $50,000 grant from the
Daniels Fund of Colorado, the board made definite
plans to build the long planned addition.
Half of this grant was a challenge grant - the
$25,000 was raised in a month's time thus giving
the library a total of $75,000. Donations
poured in and the building began in the early part
of 2007.
Tom Mann, advisory member, took on the job of
project manager and with his expertise, the
building went up with few hitches. The
community and library volunteers have been very
generous with donations for this project.
With the help of another grant of $10,000 from the Hubbard Foundation, the building is now completed. A Texas foundation awarded the library a grant to furnish the building.
Plan to visit Capitan Public Library if you are not
a regular patron - we think you will like what you
see.
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