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Before Branigan Library opened its doors to the public, Las Cruces depended on the Women's Improvement Association's (WIA) subscription library for its books and information.

When the local WIA was founded in 1894, one of their goals was to create a library as part of their overall mission to help improve Las Cruces. With that in mind, they gathered around 500 books for the circulating collection. For lack of a building, they stored the books at various member's houses, eventually moving to a small office building on Water Street. In 1927, the WIA Club House was built and became the permanent home for all the books the WIA had acquired. Las Cruces had its first public library.

WIA Library on Water St.

WIA members took turns caring for the books and acting as librarians. One of those members was Alice Branigan, widow of prominent Las Crucen Captain Thomas Branigan. Both Thomas and Alice had been very active in the community and cared a great deal about Las Cruces. When Alice died in 1932, she bequeathed her estate to a number of local organizations, such as the WIA and her church. She also left the people of Las Cruces a wonderful gift: funds to establish a public library in her husband's name.

Captain Thomas and Alice Branigan

Alice Branigan's generous donation allowed Las Cruces to build a library, furnish it and fill it with books. On October 8, 1935, the WIA donated all of its now 1,000 volumes to form the nucleus of the new Library's collection and closed its circulating library.

Thomas Branigan Memorial Library opened its doors to the public in November of 1935.

The building, which was constructed in a traditional Southwest style, won recognition and admiration for its appearance, which included a mural by well-known artist Tom Lea above the Circulation Desk. In 1938, the Library recieved national recognition in "Small Public Library Buildings" as one of 24 library buildings across the country recommended as examples of beauty. In 1939, Remington Rand's "Pioneer" featured Branigan Library. In 1967, the Library was designated a building of signifigance for adherence to regional architectural design by the Dona Ana County Historical Society.

The Library began children's summer-time story hours in 1937 in conjunction with the State College Story League, and the library featured a community auditorium that was used for many civic functions such as children's programs, dance programs, plays and group meetings.

The original Branigan Library Reading room in original Library

In 1961, as Las Cruces' population increased, the Library Board of Trustees recommended that the Library building be renovated and remodeled to better meet public demand. A new roof was added and the building went from housing a Library, public auditorium and City offices to a single complex, with the auditorium becoming a reading room and the City offices incorporated into a larger children's area.

In 1971, the Las Cruces Junior Women's Club furnished and decorated the children's room. New collections, such as a talking book collection for the visually impaired, a paperback collection and a collection of music records, were added. The Library acquired a pet parakeet and monthly art exhibits were hosted by the Las Cruces Arts and Crafts Association.

By 1972, the Library was open 66 hours a week, more than any other public library in New Mexico. Another renovation in 1973 was made possible with Federal Revenue Sharing Funds. A new roof was added, along with public restrooms. The Library remained open during the five months of renovations, the dedicated staff continuing to serve the public despite the banging and chaos around them.

New events and services were being added, as well. The first book sale took place in April of 1973 and inter-library loan services were added in 1974. In 1975, two bookmobiles were added, which allowed the Library to extend its services to the community at large, including outlying areas in Dona Ana County.

With the City growing, it soon became clear that despite renovations, the Library was fast outgrowing its home. A new Library was needed.

In October of 1976, the City Commission agreed that a new Library was needed and committed to building one. In September of 1977, the City Commission approved the purchase of a 6-acre site on the corner of Main and Picacho streets. Invitations for architectural designs were sent out and five finalists were chosen. After presentations by the architects and meetings with the City Commission, the Library Board and the Engineering Selection Committee, the design submitted by Dean and Hunt Associates was chosen. Bids for construction were accepted and a company was chosen. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on November 18, 1978. The new Library building opened to the public on November 21, 1979.

The new Library 1979 (photo courtesy of William Diven) Circulation area and card catalog - 1979

As the City contined to grow, so did the Library. A Children's and Reference Librarian were added to the staff. Circulation of materials increased as the public began to utilize their new Library more. More materials and programs were added; the Library was becoming a popular destination for Las Crucens.

By the late 1980s, the Library was once again facing space problems. In order to add space, a second floor was added. Construction on the new floor was completed in 1991. Offices, a mail room, a gallery, meeting room and technical service area were created. Display cases along the second floor hallway were added to showcase some of the Library's collection of local history artifacts, including historical artifacts from the first Library.

Into the future

Computers began popping up at Branigan Library in the early 1990s. In October, 1992, the Library's computer lab was opened to the public. Two IBM 386 clones and one Macintosh LC were donated to the Library by the City, along with three printers, one of which was color. In 1999, the Library was included in a Gates Foundation Grant award to the State of New Mexico, allowing the Library to purchase ten public-access computer stations.

The public weren't the only ones getting new technology. In 1995, the Library moved to an automated computer system, allowing patrons to search for books on online public access computers and the Library to better track its holdings. In 1997, the Library replaced old Library cards with barcoded ones for faster check-out.

Media items, such as videos, audio tapes and CDs became more popular in the 1990s. Thanks to a $15,000.00 donation by the Helix Foundation in 1994, the Library was able to substantially increase its media holdings. A new media room was opened in the old Technical Services area of the Library and soon saw heavy traffic.

In 1997, with the building nearing its twentieth year, it was decided by the Library Director and the Library Trustees that the building needed a bit of freshening up. After long consideration, new, brighter colors were chosen and the building was painted its present pink and turquoise color scheme. The changed garnered a lot of attention, reactions from the public being mixed.

Branigan Library today Circulation and card catalog area today

Today, Branigan Library continues to serve the people of Las Cruces and Dona Ana County. The bookmobile was retired in 2008 and replaced with a Books by Mail program. A small reading room was established at the Munson Senior Center to provide senior citizens with access to Library materials. Children's story hours are conducted three times a week and the Summer Reading Program, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Library continues to be a popular summer-time event for children and families; Branigan Library also added a Young Adult department and Librarian in the late 1990s to serve local teens.

The computer lab, which had such humble beginnings in the early 1990s with three computers, has grown to over twenty-five public computers with access to the internet and a whole range of computer programs and a laser printer. The Library also added a fax machine and two copy machines.

Las Crucens can always count on something happening at the Library; whether its a movie, a children's story hour, the book club's monthly meetings, a poetry reading, a concert or author visit, the public knows Branigan Library for more than just books.

Library Facts

Library Directors

1935-1942: Mrs. Effie Carmichael
1942-1946: Mrs. W. Grover Murphy
1946-1949: Mrs. Mary Tressider
1950-1971: Miss Helen Caffey
1971-1996: Mr. Don Dresp
1996-2000: Ms. Carol Brey
2000-2001: Ms. Verla Peterson (interim)
2001-2006: Ms. Lori Grumet
2007- : Ms. Kathleen Teaze

History By the Numbers...

Library Collection
1935: 1,000 books
2005: 146,133 books

Library Circulation
July 1, 1975- June 30, 1976: 250,167
July 1, 2005- June 30, 2006: 472,164

Library Staff
1997: 25
2007: 43

Number of Reference Librarians:
1977: 1
2007: 2

Number of months with active Children's programming:
1937: 3
2007: 12

References:

City of Las Cruces Budget
Fiscal Year 1997-1998

"Library Gets Computers"
Las Cruces Bulletin, 07/13/1995

"Library Noticed"
Las Cruces Sun News, 07/13/1997

"Thomas Branigan" biography

Thomas Branigan Memorial Library
Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2005-2006

"Thomas Branigan Memorial Library History: Looks [sic] forward to the future, 1935-1979"

Conley, Sunny. "Public access to computers is a godsend"
Las Cruces Sun News, 10/28/1992

Culbertson, Jeanne. "Gift has library ready to open its new media department"
Las Cruces Bulletin, 07/21/1994

DesGeoges, Doug. "Patrons of Branigan Memorial Library to get new, bar-coded library cards"
Las Cruces Bulletin, 01/02/1997

Dooley, Martha. "Libraries to pursue chunk of Gates' $2 million gift"
Las Cruces Sun News, 01/15/1999

Forshaw, Louise and Greathouse, Pat.
"Our First 25 Years: 1976-2001/ The Friends of Thomas Branigan Public Library" , 2001

Rogers, Anne. "Media room opens new chapter for library"
Las Cruces Sun News, 06/09/1994

Women's Improvement Association of Las Cruces plaque

Thank you to various Library volunteers and staff whose memories helped shape this narrative.

Photographs courtesy of the Library's archives