City of Española officials had discussed the idea of building one common library with Northern New Mexico College sporadically since May 2008, when the idea of a bond issue was first brought up, Acting City Manager Veronica Albin said, but talks did not begin in earnest until October of this year.
These talks included Mayor Joseph Maestas, District 1 Councilor Danielle Duran and Albin on the city’s side and Northern Interim President David Trujillo and Northern Capital Projects Director David Schutz on the college side, Albin said. Neither Española library director Teddie Riehl nor Northern library director Isabel Rodarte were included in the talks, the pair said.
E-mails between Trujillo and Maestas indicate the discussions went sour shortly after the two sides met in October, and an e-mail from Duran to Albin confirms that.
Duran’s e-mail states the College was only interested in an “academic, on-campus library that primarily serves students,” which was not in line with the city’s goal of a community-based library. Duran and Maestas, in particular, have been very vocal about their desire to build a library separate from Northern’s campus, but that desire has been expressed by most of the governing body at one point or another since the idea was first brought up.
Neither Duran nor Maestas returned calls for comment.
Where the proposed city library will be located has been the center of more discussion than almost any other part of the issue.
In the request for design proposals sent out by the city, potential architects were told to design with the idea of putting the 15,000 square-foot library on a 2.3-acre site behind the Bond House Museum on Bond Street. However, Maestas has insisted the scope of design work include site selection to ensure the best site is chosen.
During discussions among city officials, several sites have been discussed including the old post office on Bond street and the vacant southwest side of the Española Plaza.
Mayor Pro Tem Alice Lucero also expressed tentative interest in the city purchasing Anthony’s at the Delta, which is owned by the family of District 3 Councilor Chayo Garcia, and putting the library there.
Garcia is supporting Lucero’s upcoming campaign for Española mayor.
The library is currently located on Paseo de Oñate in a building it shares with the city’s recreation center next to City Hall.
The Council approved Nov. 30 a library design contract with Albuquerque-based firm Dekker Perich Sabatini.
The contract is for $30,000, $10,000 more than initially estimated, Albin said.
The contract is for initial design only, Albin said. Any other plans are on hold until the March 2 bond vote.