A Library Tour: San Pedro Branch



From the homage to Diary of a Wimpy Kid in the children's room.


San Pedro is a library that is serious about literacy.  Home to the library system's International Collection, one of the few libraries to feature Storytime for Grownups as well as the more traditional storytime for children, San Pedro ("La República Internacional de San Pedro Sur" on your Summer Reading passport) invites you to join them for entertainment & information all summer long!

San Pedro Library is located at 5600 Trumbull SE-for directions by car or bus, visit the library website. The library has 17 public computers, including two in the children's room. San Pedro also offers many of the standard amenities of the ABC Libraries' branches: fax service; voter registration forms, None for the Road DVDs, & bus schedules are all available, but the branch does not have a meeting room or study rooms. San Pedro does have a magazine swap & accepts donations in their front lobby!

San Pedro is a compact library that fits a lot into its small space! In February,  Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Libraries and Albuquerque City Councilor Rey Garduño dedicated the system's new International Collection at San Pedro, where much of it is still housed.  Previously, the ABC Libraries catalog had Spanish & some Vietnamese titles, but in 2009 voters approved a City GO Bond to fund library materials for the International District that included books in Spanish, French, Arabic, Vietnamese and Mandarin languages. Place a hold on these items, or, better yet, stop by & browse!

San Pedro Library also has a thriving children's section. There are regular storytimes on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. featuring Books and Stories with Digby Bobcat and Book Mark & there are fun displays, including one dedicated to science fair projects.  This branch also keeps puzzles on hand for kids to play with while they're in the building.

Digby's publicity photo & some fan mail for Book Mark!

Our Summer Reading program, "One World, Many Stories/Un Mundo, Muchas Historias", kicks off with a bang at the San Pedro Library! On Saturday, June 4th, from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., there will be stories, games, treats, & a sidewalk art festival. Book Mark will be reading noodlehead stories, stories which "often rely on the 'academically-challenged' to do something so contrary to what is expected that it elicits a laugh...the story often turns, when it is the noodlehead that comes out the winner in the end."  Later in the summer, you can stop by for a variety of events for children, teens, & adults, including, on June 30th, a workshop for teens with a theatrical flair, Acting 1-Basics of Acting. San Pedro staff will be leading this session, using scenes from Macbeth! There will also be Every Child Ready to Read storytimes & a visit on June 22nd from master storyteller Joe Hayes.  Check out the San Pedro branch website for more information on programs, staff picks, & even science project help!

Scooby wants to see your face in the place!

Besides checking out books & programs at San Pedro Library, there are ample reasons to pay a visit to the area! The New Mexico Veterans' Memorial is about half a mile away. The Highland Pool is at San Mateo SE between Zuni and Central, across the street from Wal-Mart. If the kids need to blow off some steam before the library visit, there's Jack and Jill Park just down the street at San Pedro & Bell-with a playground & candy canes for decoration! You can tempt your tummy at Giovanni's Pizzeria (you won't regret it-I speak from experience) or Pho # 1 (ditto), or, if you want some treats to take home, Talin Market is not far away.

Stop by San Pedro Library this summer & get a stamp on your Summer Reading passport! If you have have visited at least four countries (libraries), you will be given a “World Traveler” entry form to fill out, & you will be entered to win a prize at the end of the summer! Meanwhile, we'll see you in the funny pages!

Handmade sign by Book Mark!