Placitas Community Library
🏢 Placitas Community Library · Placitas, New Mexico
Placitas Community Library
A remarkable community achievement in Sandoval County's high desert foothills, the Placitas Community Library was reborn in 2002 when a single newspaper ad asking "Does Placitas need a library?" sparked a volunteer-built institution that moved into its permanent home on NM-165 in 2009. With roughly 90 active volunteers, library passes to local attractions, and the motto "A Place for Everyone / Una Placita Para Todos," it is the cultural heart of Placitas.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–5pm |
| Thursday | 10am–5pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–4pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 453 NM-165, Placitas, NM 87043
Phone: (505) 867-3355
Website: placitaslibrary.com
Plus Code: 857M8G4R+W5 (Placitas, NM)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Placitas Community Library
Placitas is an unincorporated Sandoval County community in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains, about 20 miles north of Albuquerque. Its library story is one of the more remarkable in New Mexico: a small collection was started in the 1960s by Frances Escarcida and Adela Garcia in a two-room schoolhouse hallway, then the community library was revived in 2002 when resident Sue Strasia placed a newspaper advertisement asking whether Placitas needed a library. The response was enthusiastic — within months volunteers had secured donated space, books, and community support. The library ran entirely on volunteer labor (with no paid staff) until 2012, and in 2009 it moved into its purpose-built permanent home at 453 NM-165, funded by approximately $500,000 in federal funds allocated by then-Congresswoman Heather Wilson plus matching state, county and community contributions totaling about $1 million. Today roughly 90 volunteers keep the library running, offering print, scan and fax services, laptops for patron use, community meeting room reservations, museum passes, and an online catalog through Biblionix. The library describes itself as humanistic — "growing, evolving, learning, and teaching" — and its programs range from children's story hours to poetry readings, movie screenings, financial literacy workshops, art exhibitions, and garden-related activities.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Reborn in 2002 from a single newspaper ad; built and run by community volunteers with no paid staff until 2012
- Permanent home since 2009 — funded by ~$1 million combining federal, state, county and community contributions
- Approximately 90 active volunteers keep the library open five days a week, including evenings on Tuesday
- Online catalog through Biblionix; print, scan, fax and laptop lending available on site
- Motto: "A Place for Everyone / Una Placita Para Todos" — programs include storytimes, poetry, film, financial literacy and garden events
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Placitas cardholders can tap into New Mexico's statewide digital collections at no charge:
📚 Services
- Print, scan and fax services
- Laptops available for in-library use
- Community meeting room reservations
- Library passes to local community attractions
- Online catalog through Biblionix
- Book sales
- Interlibrary loan
🎸 Programs
- Children's story hours and youth programming
- Poetry readings and literary events
- Movie screenings
- Financial literacy workshops
- Art exhibitions
- Garden-related activities and seed lending
- Summer reading program
📍 Nearby Libraries in Sandoval County & Northern New Mexico
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Placitas · Browse all New Mexico libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Placitas Community Library's hours?
The library is open Tuesday 10am–7pm, Wednesday and Thursday 10am–5pm, Saturday 10am–5pm, and Sunday 1pm–4pm. It is closed on Monday and Friday.
How did the Placitas Community Library come to exist?
In 2002 Sue Strasia placed a newspaper ad asking whether Placitas needed a community library. The enthusiastic response led to a volunteer-driven effort that quickly grew from a single donated room to a thriving institution. The library ran entirely on volunteer labor until 2012 and moved into its permanent purpose-built home on NM-165 in 2009, funded by about $1 million in combined federal, state, county and community contributions.
Is the Placitas Community Library entirely volunteer-run?
It was fully volunteer-run with no paid staff from its founding in 2002 through 2012. Today it continues to rely on approximately 90 active volunteers for most of its operations, though it has since added paid staff. The volunteer spirit is central to the library's identity and community character.
Does the Placitas Community Library have museum passes?
Yes, the library offers passes for community members to visit local attractions. For the latest pass availability and which venues are included, contact the library at (505) 867-3355 or visit placitaslibrary.com.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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