Esperanza Library, was shut down in 2001, leaving many of the residents, including city councilor Ken Sanchez upset.
“I myself and a lot of the residents were devastated because it was a part of my community for so many years,” Sanchez said. “I grew up going to that library and I felt like a part of me was taken away. I think this is a way to give back to the community.”
The library will have the largest community room (other than the main library) able to house 150 people. It will also feature an enclosed young adult section and a quiet reading room.
There are plans to offer tutoring services and resume reviewing services on top of being filled with over 75,000 books.
The printed word won’t be the only thing available in the new library according to Dean Smith, Director of Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Libraries.
“We'll have a large amount of computers in this building,” Smith said. “We’ll have state of the art Wi-Fi. We've got a very strong fiber connection in this building.”
The council is hoping that the library will bring other things to the area.
"We hope this will be an anchor and draw in other amenities like I said a small theatre or drug stores,” President of the West Mesa Neighborhood Association Louis Tafoya stated.
On top of increased literacy rates, they are hoping to see other improvements to the area such as increased property value in the surrounding neighborhood.
The Central & Unser Library is due to open Saturday April 18th. Everyone is welcome to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday the 18th at 10 AM for food, activities and performances. It’s only a 20 minute drive away from Sandia Village Apartments.
Additional sources referenced:
KOB4
Albuquerque Journal
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