El Rito Public Library
🏢 El Rito Public Library · El Rito, New Mexico
El Rito Public Library
Founded in 1986 by a community librarian and a rural-health director in a 1930s WPA adobe schoolhouse, the El Rito Public Library now fills the entire renovated building on State Road 215 — open Tuesday through Saturday noon to 5 p.m. with more than 11,850 volumes, digital lending and active after-school programs for the 800 residents of this northern New Mexico village.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 12pm–5pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm–5pm |
| Thursday | 12pm–5pm |
| Friday | 12pm–5pm |
| Saturday | 12pm–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 182 State Road 215, El Rito, NM 87530
Phone: (575) 581-4608
Website: elritolibrary.org
Plus Code: 858M8RGM+QQ (El Rito, NM)
📱 Scan for directions
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About El Rito Public Library
The El Rito Public Library was established on May 5, 1986, when Las Clinicas del Norte director Andy R. Lopez and professional librarian Betsy McIntosh (1918–2001) opened it in a single room of the former Placitas Middle School — a 1930s WPA adobe building that had also housed a senior center and clinic. After the clinic moved to a new facility, a grand reopening on February 1, 2000 marked the library's expansion into the entire building, following renovations funded by a capital-improvement grant from the New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps, the Los Alamos Foundation, the Helen and Will Webster Foundation, Lowe's contributions and community donations. Today the library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves a rural population of roughly 808 residents in Rio Arriba County. Its collection of 11,850 volumes circulates about 4,642 items per year and is supplemented by e-books, e-audio and e-movie access through its Apollo catalog (Biblionix). The library runs an after-school program on Tuesday afternoons, a parent-toddler club on Thursdays, and community events including the annual El Rito Studio Tour weekend. Donations sustain much of its operation alongside government and foundation support.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded May 5, 1986 by librarian Betsy McIntosh and Las Clinicas del Norte director Andy R. Lopez in a 1930s WPA adobe schoolhouse
- Expanded in 2000 to fill the entire former Placitas Middle School building after renovation grants from the NM Youth Conservation Corps and the Los Alamos Foundation
- Collection of 11,850 volumes serving a village population of roughly 808 in Rio Arriba County
- Open Tuesday–Saturday noon to 5 p.m.; after-school program every Tuesday 4–5:30 p.m.
- Nonprofit 501(c)(3) — supported by community donations in addition to government and foundation grants
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
El Rito cardholders can borrow digitally and research online through the library's statewide connections:
📚 Services
- Circulating collection of 11,850 books, DVDs, magazines, e-books, e-audio and e-movies
- Online catalog (Apollo/Biblionix) and interlibrary loan
- Public computers and internet access
- After-school program (Tuesdays 4–5:30 p.m.)
- Parent/Toddler Club (Thursdays 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)
- Community meeting space
- Donations accepted (cash, check, credit/debit via PayPal)
🎸 Programs
- After-school program every Tuesday 4–5:30 p.m.
- Parent/Toddler Club ongoing Thursdays 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- El Rito Quilters — Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.
- Annual meeting and community events (El Rito Studio Tour weekend in September)
- Summer reading program
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northern New Mexico
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in El Rito · Browse all New Mexico libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When is the El Rito Public Library open?
The library is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. It is closed Sunday and Monday. The after-school program runs on Tuesdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. during that same open window.
How did the El Rito Public Library start, and where is it located?
It was founded on May 5, 1986, by librarian Betsy McIntosh and Las Clinicas del Norte director Andy R. Lopez in a single room of the former Placitas Middle School — a 1930s WPA adobe building at 182 State Road 215. After the clinic moved out in 2000, the library expanded to fill the entire renovated building.
Can I borrow e-books from the El Rito Public Library?
Yes. The library's collection includes e-books, e-audio and e-movies accessible through its Apollo/Biblionix catalog (elrito.biblionix.com/catalog/). Cardholders also have access to Libby/OverDrive through the New Mexico statewide network and to El Portal databases through the NM State Library.
How does the El Rito Library sustain itself as a rural institution?
The El Rito Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combines government funding with foundation grants (including past support from the Los Alamos Foundation and Helen and Will Webster Foundation) and community donations. Contributions by cash, check or credit card (via PayPal) help keep this small rural library open for the roughly 808 residents it serves.
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