It's time for our 6th Annual Community Cleanup!  On Saturday, May 12, 2007 starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Library and finishing off at 12:00 noon.  A picnic at the Library Grounds will immediately follow for all participants.  Pick up trash bags at the Library and don't forget to bring your own gloves.

As being part of the community, please get involved.  Make a difference in your community, even if it is only for one day.  Last year we picked up many, many truckloads of trash.  It's only for three hours, but it does make a difference.  Let's set an example to our children by showing we care about out environment.  If you can't come to the Library, pick up trash in front of your own private land by the road.  The Ojo Caliente Highway Department's District Office will come pick up the trash bags left on the side of the roads on Monday, May 14, 2007.  Thank you and hope to see you there!

We are happy to announce that we have just completed our new Children's library room. We painted the children's table and bookshelves red, yellow and blue. All the children's books and videos have been shelved and ready to be taken out. We have little chairs for our little patrons to come in and sit and read/view books or they can lie down on the colorful ABC floor mat. We are still working on Grandma Rena's corner, but she continues to read every Saturday morning from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Parents, please bring you children to see this new area and get them involved in wanting to read. We have a great selection of children's books and we continue to get new ones every month. This library is all about you. Take advantage of the free service we offer our little patrons.

Just in time for Christmas Gifts!  There will be a Live and Silent Auction Fundraiser for the El Rito Library on Saturday, December 2, 2006, between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the new El Rito Community Center (located on the west side of the Northern New Mexico College).  Professional Auctioneer (and Library Board Member) Donald Martinez Jr. will be auctioning off items donated by artists and vendors.  Some items will include:  art work, gift certificates for services, Quilt from El Rito Quilter’s Guild, local crafts, camping gear, a tree, dog and cat food, and much, much more.  There will be door prizes and refreshments.  All proceeds go to the El Rito Library.

REQUEST FOR DONATIONS - We are asking local artists and vendors from El Rito, Abiquiu, Ojo Caliente, Espanola, and all surrounding communities to contribute items or services to the above auction fundraiser.  If you wish to donate, please call the Library at 581-4608 and bring your items to the Library by November 22, 2006.  Thank you.

On October 14th and 15th, and for the third year in a row, the El Rito Library will be participating in the El Rito Studio Tour and will be selling chocolate desserts at the Library.  “Death by Chocolate”  has been very popular during the studio tour.  One can escape into chocolate heaven and endulge on the sweet treats baked by our community members who make this fundraising event a success every year.  There will also be coffee and hot tea available.  See you there!

Come listen to David Barsamian’s Topic: “The Current Crisis in the Middle East”. Open discussion period follows. This event will take place at the El Rito Library, Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. There will be a $10.00 admission fee which will benefit the Library. David Barsamian is the Producer of “Alternative Radio” and has been a Hero in providing twenty (20) years of independent critical media. David will present the story behind the story. Call the Library at 581-4608 for more information.

On Friday and Saturday, August 11th and 12th, 2006 at 8:00 p.m. there will be a fundraising event entitled “Out Cry”, a play by Tennessee Williams. This play is produced by “I of the Storm Theatre Works”. Seating capacity for each day of the event will be 35 persons and tickets are $15.00 per person. If you would like to purchase a ticket, come by Library and buy a ticket or reserve a ticket and pay on the day of the event by calling the Library at 581-4608. Early reservations advisable. Come have a great evening and help support your Library. See you there!

THIS PLAY HAS BEEN CANCELLED. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

Two items by local artists have been donated to the Library for fundraising. The quilt “Sunshine and Shadow” was handmade by the El Rito Quilter’s Guild and donated as a 20th Birthday fundraising item. The second item was donated by Kathleen Vanderbrook which is a hand silk screened print called “Ghost Trees”. Both of these items will be auctioned on E-Bay as soon as we can get registered as a non-profit organization.  We will let you know when it is posted on E-Bay.

We are again offering free summer art workshops for children at the El Rito Library thanks to a grant from the New Mexico Children’s Foundation and the El Rito Studio Tour.

Sign up now for:

• Poetry - 8 year & up Mondays 2:00 - 4:00 Starts July 10, 2006
• Pottery - 8 years & up Tuesdays 10:00 - 12:00 Starts June 13th
• Beginning Guitar - 10 & up Tuesdays & Thursdays 2:00 - 3:30 Starts June 13th
• Arts & Crafts - Ages 5-8 Wednesdays 2:30 - 4:00 Starts June 21st
• Radio Production - 8 yrs. & Up Wednesdays 2:30 - 4:00 Starts June 21st
• Scrapbooking - Ages 5-13 Saturdays 11:00 - 1:00 Starts June 24th
• Traditional Cooking - Ages 5-8 Thursdays 10:00 - 12:00 Starts July 6th
• Theatre - 13 years & up Thursdays 6:30 - 8:30 Starts July 6th
• Theatre - Ages 8-12 Fridays 10:00 - 12:00 Starts July 7th

All workshops are free. Snacks and materials are provided. For further information or to sign up, call 581-4608 or stop by the Library. Permission slips are required to be signed by a parent.