Inside the Truchas Community Library, the quiet hum of activity feels anything but silent. Laughter floats from the weaving room, where a group of people sit around their looms, hands crafting intricate designs as their conversations shift between family stories and village gossip. “The best part is the pláticas,” one weaver tells me with a smile. “That’s why we come.”
Right off of NM County Road 75, next door to the Volunteer Fire Department and Senior Center, sits the Truchas Services Center. The building faces an incredible scenic view of homes scattered amongst the trees and the towering mountain peaks behind them. When I stepped inside, I was greeted by Julie Trujillo, who has served as Director of the Community Library for more than 20 years.
She shared how far the library has come since its earliest days. Although the community didn’t have paved roads until the early 1970s, library services began on a limited basis in the 1960s and continued through 1971. During this time, the community was also served by the State Library’s Rural Bookmobile Program, which started in 1956. In 1972, the former Mission School was transformed into what is now the library and services center.
Additionally, since 1972 a bilingual preschool has operated out of the library, serving children from Truchas and neighboring communities. Over the years, the library has faced many challenges but has remained resilient, officially becoming a full-service library in 2016.
Today, Julie manages a collection of over 10,000 books, curating new acquisitions to match patrons’ interests – whether it's a new James Patterson book or the latest young adult graphic novel. The collection also includes audiobooks, DVDs, and even VCRs as well as a few players, all available for checkout.
But this little library is far more than its collection – it offers a wide range of programs and community events. For example, it has hosted a bilingual puppet show and animal visits from the New Mexico Wildlife Center. When I visited, the library was geared up for the annual Truchas Fiestas, held on the last Saturday of July. The celebration brings the community together with a parade, food, vendors, art, and live entertainment.
With Truchas’ rich artistic heritage, the library has become a hub where craft and culture intersect. A community favorite are the yearly intergenerational drawing classes, led by a local artist. And every September, artists in the community are invited to display their work at the library for The High Road Art Tour, opening its doors to new faces and fostering creative exchange.
Seeing the library stirred something personal in me. It brought back memories of visiting my padrinos in Truchas as a kid, of walking with my cousin to the library to browse the computers and play outside. It was a reminder that libraries are so much more than a building with books – they are a place where conversations are kept alive, memories are passed on, and neighbors stay connected.
Rio Arriba Independent Libraries (RAIL) provided the inspiration to create the initiative. RAIL is a coalition of five 501 (c)(3) libraries in Rio Arriba County. Each library was established through grassroots community efforts.
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