Moriarty Library Meets Community Needs
Moriarty, named for the first permanent family to settle in the area, is a town located in central New Mexico.
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The Moriarty Community Library is a place where curiosity, creativity, and connection all find a home. I met with Director Natalie Bott who shared that “staff are always trying to find new ways to meet patron needs.” This commitment becomes clear the moment you step inside.
As staff walked me through the space, they highlighted the many ways the library supports its community. Seniors can schedule one‑on‑one technology help, while parents juggling little ones can take advantage of the Parenting Computer Station, complete with a built-in playpen. With access to a Cricut machine, laminator, and a poster/banner printer, families can personalize birthday décor and local business owners can upgrade their menus with ease.
The library has also launched several initiatives focused on practical support. Their first Grocery Bingo drew a huge crowd, sending over 20 families’ home with bags of non-perishable food. A newly added “Self‑Help Shelf” offers essentials like menstrual products, toiletries, and diapers, available to anyone who needs them.
Youth programming is equally robust. Kids can join an all‑ages storytime, explore the STEM Builders Club, or unwind at “Friday Night Fight Club” – the library’s video‑gaming group. During the summer, partnerships with the local 4‑H chapter and New Mexico State University’s ICAN program ensure that healthy snacks are part of the fun.
One standout offering is the library’s collection of VOX books, which read aloud through a built-in audio device and are a hit with emerging readers. Beyond books, Moriarty offers an impressive non‑traditional collection, including board games, seeds, garden tools, and even a sports equipment library–perfect for a quick soccer match at the park across the parking lot.
No overview of the library would be complete without mentioning its annual Moriarty Mini Comic Convention. This year’s event hosted 78 vendors and drew more than 300 attendees, a reminder that this small‑town library thinks big.
