Library news

Friends of the Corrales Library Need Donated Books

During the thick of COVID-19, patrons forced to stay home with cluttered shelves and time on their hands led directly to a record number of book donations to FOCL. The great book purge, as we call it, combined with our inability to hold sales for several cycles, created a large and unwieldy surplus of books in our inventory. We had books tucked in our shed, multiple garages, and storage units.

Word got around that FOCL had more than enough books, thank you, and nowhere to put them. However, now we need you to spread the opposite message, library lovers. As COVID recedes and we embrace a new normal, FOCL has an alarming lack of new donations to offer at our Spring Book Sale! Our stores are only 1/3 full with just three weeks to go until the first weekend in June when the sale is typically held. In a word, HELP! 

FOCL relies on two sales a year to help cover the library’s yearly programming budget, DVD acquisitions, New York Times subscription, seed library supplies, children’s garden maintenance, purchases of books from small publishers, as well other incidental needs as they arise. We do indeed need your donations of gently used books, media, puzzles, and educational games to help make possible what our wonderful librarians offer to the community. 

Go to friendsofthecorraleslibrary.org for info on dropping off donations.

Born to be Wild! Through July 6

AT: Gracie Lee Community Room, Placitas Community Library

453 HWY 165, Placitas, NM 87043

Artists Reception -- Friday, June 9, 5-6:30 pm

Hours: Tues., Weds., Thurs. and Sat., 10am – 5pm; Sun. 1 – 4pm

What happens when you challenge folks to explore their wild side? Twenty-five artists from Placitas and environs offer an untamed selection of visual responses to the Placitas Community Library Art Committee’s current exhibition “Born to be Wild.” The works are featured in the Library’s Gracie Lee Community Room.

Wildlife portraits proliferate as do intense colors, and wry commentary rendered in a variety of media including paintings and sculpture. The exhibit continues through July 6 with an artists’ reception on Friday, June 9 from 5:00 – 6:30. As always, works are available for purchase with a portion of the sales price benefiting the library.

This exhibit will be followed on July 8 by “Art Inspired by Art.”

Women on the Edge: A Program Featuring Three Authors

The Placitas Community Library is delighted to host three local women writers on Sunday, June 11 at 2pm.

These New Mexico authors explore and discuss the theme "Women on the Edge" in their poetry, novels, and short stories. Each will read an excerpt from her own work to illustrate this aspect of their writing. Each writer will also share a favorite excerpt from the book of one of the other two writers.

The books under discussion are: Hilda Raz's collected poems, "Letter from a Place I’ve Never Been"; Phyllis Skoy’s novel "A Coup"; and Lynn C. Miller’s collection of stories, "The Lost Archive".

The three will consider questions about the process of generation these particular books. What were the catalysts for these projects? How is each of these books a process of discovery for the author? How did the role of the audience/reader figure into the writing? Was there a particular goal? How do gender, culture, and place relate to

each book?

A Q. and A. with the audience is a major part of the program.

Hilda Raz lives in Placitas and is a writer and editor. Her 14th book is her collected poems, "Letter from a Place I’ve Never Been." She is Poetry Editor of Bosque Press and editor of the Mary Burritt Christiansen Poetry Series at the UNMP.

Phyllis M. Skoy is the author of three novels, a memoir, short stories and essays. Her most recent novel to be released this June, "A Coup," is the third in her trilogy, A Turkish Trilogy. 

Lynn C. Miller’s fifth work of fiction, "The Lost Archive," came out in April of 2023. She is the author of four novels. Co-publisher of Bosque Press and co-host of the podcast, “The Unruly Muse," she lives in Albuquerque.