Capitan Public Library
🏢 Lincoln County · Capitan, New Mexico
Capitan Public Library
Tucked in the Sacramento Mountains village best known as the home of Smokey Bear, the Capitan Public Library is one of only two Lincoln County libraries run entirely by volunteers. It opens Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday noon to 3 p.m., offering Libby eBooks, El Portal databases, an adult book club, and a welcoming community reading room at 101 E. 2nd Street.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10am–3pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–3pm |
| Thursday | 10am–3pm |
| Friday | 10am–3pm |
| Saturday | 12pm–3pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 101 E. 2nd Street, Capitan, NM 88316
Phone: (575) 354-3035
Website: capitanlibrary.org
Plus Code: 855PGCVH+VG (Capitan, NM)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Capitan Public Library
The Capitan Public Library serves the small Village of Capitan in Lincoln County, south-central New Mexico — a community most famous as the birthplace of Smokey Bear, the bear cub rescued from a 1950 wildfire in the Capitan Mountains and buried at nearby Smokey Bear Historical Park. The library is proudly volunteer-run; it is one of only two public libraries in Lincoln County operated entirely by community volunteers. Situated on East 2nd Street, it holds a general lending collection, DVDs for sale, and public computers, and participates in the statewide El Portal Gale database network and Libby eBook lending. The Friends of the Library support the collection and programming, and the library also operates a Not 2 Shabby Thrift Store as a fundraising venture. Regular programming includes an adult book club, bingo and board game nights, a writers group, genealogy workshops, veterans services, and children's storytimes — a remarkable range for a village library staffed solely by volunteers.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Entirely volunteer-run — one of only two public libraries in Lincoln County operating without paid staff
- Located in Capitan, NM, the village where Smokey Bear was rescued from a wildfire in the Capitan Mountains in 1950
- Adult Book Club, Bingo Night, Board Game Night, Writers Group, and Genealogy Workshops — rich programming for a small-town library
- Libby eBooks & audiobooks and El Portal Gale databases available free to cardholders
- Not 2 Shabby Thrift Store and Friends of the Library support community fundraising
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Capitan cardholders can borrow eBooks and access research databases free through New Mexico's statewide digital library:
📚 Services
- General lending collection including books and DVDs (DVDs available for purchase at $1 each)
- Public computers and internet access
- Libby eBook and audiobook borrowing
- El Portal Gale database access
- Book sales supporting the Friends of the Library
- Computer and phone assistance (Thursdays)
- Veterans services assistance
- Genealogy research resources
🎸 Programs
- Adult Book Club
- Bingo Night
- Board Game Night
- Writers Group
- Genealogy Workshops
- Veterans Services
- Reading to Children and Summer Reading Program
- Quilt Raffle fundraiser
📍 Nearby Libraries in South-Central New Mexico
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Capitan · Browse all New Mexico libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Capitan Public Library really run by volunteers?
Yes. The Capitan Public Library is one of only two public libraries in Lincoln County operated entirely by community volunteers — there are no paid staff. The volunteers who run the library are supported by the Friends of the Library organization and by the Not 2 Shabby Thrift Store, which raises funds for library operations.
What are the Capitan library's hours?
The library is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 12 noon to 3 p.m. It is closed on Monday and Sunday.
What is the connection between Capitan and Smokey Bear?
On May 9, 1950, firefighters battling a wildfire in the Capitan Mountains found a badly burned bear cub clinging to a charred tree. The cub was nursed back to health, named Smokey Bear, and became the living symbol of the U.S. Forest Service's fire-prevention campaign. When he died in 1976, Smokey was returned to Capitan and is buried at Smokey Bear Historical Park, about a block from the library.
Does the Capitan library offer genealogy resources?
Yes. The library hosts a regular Genealogy Workshop program for community members tracing family history, and cardholders can access the El Portal Gale databases — which include historical records and reference materials useful for genealogical research — free of charge.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.