The Friends of the Corrales Library

A Little History

In 2019, FOCL celebrated 40 years since the completion of the beautiful, quirky building which stands at 84 West La Entrada Road and houses the beloved Corrales Community Library.  Of course, the Corrales Library as an entity came into being considerably earlier.  There is mention of an informal “Friends” group in place as early as 1955 when Casa Tours— paid tours of Corrales’ old adobe homes — were started to raise money for the founding of the first library.  By 1957, the group had grown in number and focus: “members donated money and books, and bake sales and silver coffees were held” (History of the Corrales Community Library, rev. 3/93, author unknown).  The early Friends' efforts paid off and the first incarnation of the Corrales Library was born. Funded and run entirely by volunteers, it was housed in the disused fire station on the grounds of today's Corrales Elementary.  (Pictured right, the old library years later as it was being converted into classroom space.)

                


FOCL as Official Nonprofit

Starting in 1967,  the old library (pictured left) received a yearly grant of $400 from Sandoval County, but it was strictly earmarked for book purchases.  The library covered its other expenses, such as supplies, utilities and maintenance with money earned from fundraisers which now included bridge and canasta games, book sales, and selling refreshments at the annual Village Fiesta on San Ysidro Day. Organizing these events was a new, incorporated Friends of the Corrales Library organization.  It was at this time that FOCL officially began administering all public donations to the library. 

In May 1977, an invigorated and energized FOCL group came together and its first order of business was to advocate and raise funds for the construction of a badly needed new building:  “the Friends of the Corrales Library organized the whole building effort. They brought the Village together and had fun doing it:  concerts, t-shirt sales, flea markets, and entreaties for help with the promise of a good time" (History of the Corrales Library,” rev. 3/93).



The Library the People Built

"Ground was broken on April 1, 1978 on land owned by the Village of Corrales, located near the post office and bank. The plea for help at ground breaking was typical of the good-humored come-on used throughout the project. “We need seventy-seven good men,” they said, “each to dig five feet of foundation trench eighteen inches deep. Bring your own shovel. Refreshments.” Over a hundred men, women, and children showed up, and on every Saturday through the spring and summer dozens of volunteers helped lay adobes and bricks, plaster, clean, paint, carpenter plumb, wire or just tote." -- Ginna Hetzel, 1989, on the 10 Anniversary

The Dream Realized

"We did it – The people of Corrales, The Friends of the Library, all of us together, artists, artisans, laborers and children, who mixed a little mud, laid a few bricks, pushed a wheelbarrow, put in a weekend or every weekend, beat the bushes, lost tools, got hernias, neglected home and hearth and jobs, worked and dreamed for many years – and gave money.  We got what we deserved – And it’s beautiful."

-- Carol Torr, 1979, on opening day



Pictured above, a 1978 flier for the Annual FOCL Membership Party/celebration of getting the roof on before winter set in.  Pictured left, the finished Corrales Community Library at 84 West La Entrada Road, 1979-- "The Library the People Built." 

FOCL Today

Since the completion of the main building, FOCL has continued to play a role in fundraising and planning for the expansion and furnishing of the library.  Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, we fund ALL children’s, teen and adult programming through our membership, semi-annual book sales, and other events.  So if you have enjoyed a free summer evening performance in La Entrada Park, taken a crafting or cooking class with Sandra, or made a gingerbread house with the whole family at holiday time, you have enjoyed a small portion of what FOCL provides


Who belongs to FOCL today?  Anyone who loves the library and wants to join. The Board of Directors is always looking for new members who have vision and perhaps are willing to invest a little sweat equity just like in the old days — and still have fun. 

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