A little history about our little treasure...
Years 2000 – 2023
The Talpa Community Center used to be an elementary school. After sitting empty for a few years, the community came together to secure the building for use as a community center. Today, the Talpa Community Center is operated by a five-member Board of Directors, with Lupita Morgas serving as the Director of Management to oversee day-to-day operations.
The residents of Talpa Village expressed a need for a library closer to home, particularly since the community lacks public transportation. In 2003, we decided to convert the old school lunchroom into our small library. We spread the word that we were accepting book donations, and the community responded generously.
We quickly realized we needed bookshelves, and once again, people stepped up to help. The Fort Burgin Research Center was updating their shelves at that time and graciously donated their old ones, which was a tremendous blessing for us. Additionally, two computers were donated. Effie Romero, who was the Director at the time, along with the Board and Josephine Gonzales, took charge of coordinating the volunteers to get the project underway. Our one-room library was soon ready to welcome patrons.
Then, Mari Judy, a local author of the book "Life on Torres Road," became interested in helping us get certified as a public library through the New Mexico State Library division. She reached out to the NMSL, and they visited our library to assess it using the 2000 Census data and boundaries to determine our legal status. As a result, we qualified for Go Bond funding and State Support.
Library Expansion in 2007
In 2007, our library's children's section was completely out of space.
For the past five years, we had been renting an adjoining room to a local artist, Tony Abeyta, for his studio. However, he was set to move to a larger location. Tony had been our main financial support during those initial years, and as he left, he kindly gifted us a signed easel and palette.
Once again, we reached out to the community for donations of shelves and children's books, which allowed us to open the additional room exclusively for kids. With the help of Go Bond funds, we were also able to set up a computer area featuring four new computers.
Library Director
Charlene Gonzales, who had recently retired from her position in the Education Department of Teaching and Administration at the Taos Municipal Schools and the Taos Pueblo Education Department, joined our team of volunteers as the Library Director. She was able to help us stay informed about state-level developments. Our Current Library Director is Effie Romero.
We would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who has contributed to making our Library Dream a reality over the years. We appreciate those who have been a part of this journey, including Josephine Gonzales, Marie Judy, Charlene Gonzales, Cathy Vigil, Alice Park, Brittany Vigil, Ruthie Garcia, Effie Romero, Jackie Vincent, John Snyder, Luzita Trujillo, Nina Vigil, and our current Library Director, Effie Romero. We are also thankful for our group of library friends who support us each year, both through monetary donations and hands-on assistance.
While we can't mention everyone by name, please know that we appreciate each and every one of you!
Volunteer Work
Are you interested in making a positive impact in your community? Volunteer at the Talpa Community Center! We rely on dedicated individuals to help us maintain a clean and organized space for everyone. Stop by or call 575-751-1014 today to learn about how you can get involved and make a difference!