100 Years of Special Collections Library Celebrated with New Exhibition at Albuquerque Museum

A new exhibition at Albuquerque Museum explores the history of the Special Collections Library, the city’s first public library, which now houses a vast collection of materials documenting the history and culture of Albuquerque. Through books, ephemera, art, and photographs, Open to All: A Century of Access at the Special Collections Library, looks at the history of the building and recognizes the people who provided access to a world of learning for thousands of Albuquerque residents.

Open to All places Albuquerque’s Special Collections Library in a broader context of libraries across the nation as they face challenges with providing open, free access to everyone regardless of gender, age, ability, citizenship, or housing status. The exhibition will be on view May 24 to November 2. The Opening Conversation will take place Sunday, June 1 at 2 p.m. featuring current and former library staff reflecting on the rich history of service at the Special Collections Library.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to the many librarians and board members who worked together with the community to build the incredible public library system we have today,” said Curator of History Alicia Romero. “We hope this exhibition honors their efforts and further instills the value of what public libraries bring to our society, not just in Albuquerque, but nationwide.”

The Special Collections Library building, known then as Main Library, opened its doors on March 23, 1925, on the northwest corner of Edith Boulevard and Central Avenue. For 50 years, the Main Library provided books to the local community, held art exhibitions, and offered public programming. Beginning in 1947, the bookmobile became a lifeline for those craving books, magazines, and periodicals who lived far from the library building and were without easy transportation to the center of Albuquerque.

As the Albuquerque Public Library system grew, eventually including Bernalillo County, and new branch locations were built around town, the Main Library no longer needed to serve the city’s entire population, though the surrounding community continued to patronize its stacks and reading areas.

In 1975, the Main Library became known as Old Main, when a new main library was built downtown. Since 1978, the newly named Special Collections Library has grown its archival collection to over 100,000 materials that focus on local, state, and regional history and culture. While Special, as it is lovingly referred to by librarians, is no longer a circulating library, its doors remain open to all for research. This library, like many others, has evolved to serve its patrons beyond providing access to reading and research materials.

“Our Special Collections Library is a time capsule of Albuquerque’s past,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “The evolution of this library and our whole library system is proof that the fight for free and open access to knowledge never ends.”

This exhibition is made possible in part by the Albuquerque Museum Foundation.