A Library Tour: Juan Tabo Branch

(Boy Reading, dinosaur, and background art by Adrienne, for her puppet show)

And I think to myself... what a wonderful world!

As Louis Armstrong sings for the puppet show at every Music and Movement session this summer, what a wonderful world it is at Juan Tabo Library, indeed!

Located on busy Juan Tabo Boulevard, the library is still a quiet, serene place--set down from the road, and embraced by two walled gardens, its windows look out on greenery and landscaping, rather than on the ample parking space around the building. (It is, in fact, a park and ride station for public transit!) The unconventionally shaped library was dedicated in December of 1983, and has been a neighborhood fixture ever since.

Nearby, you can enjoy Mexican food at Garcia's Kitchen, or have an Irish Pub experience next door at O'Neill's. A bit further afield, you can celebrate Greek culture at either Zorba's or the Mykonos Cafe. You could shop at Albertson's or Smiths, and even take care of your recycling at the City Recycling center at Montgomery and Tramway! And of course, our neighbors across the street at Lowe's can help you with your home needs while you're in the neighborhood.
The Juan Tabo Library is located at 3407 Juan Tabo Blvd NE, between Comanche and Candelaria, on the west side of the street, just south of the North Glenwood Hills arroyo.

Featuring a full-sized children's area across the building from the adult area, Juan Tabo gives opportunites for patrons of all ages to enjoy the library space in their own ways--whether it's using one of our eleven adult computers (or three children's computers), finding a quiet spot near the adult garden windows to read or work, or joining rambunctious play at the puppet show in the children's area (a kind donation from Jim Fisher, in memory of his wife, Mary Ann), or settling down to color.

The library offers the full range of the collection--books, videos, books on tape and CD, music, digital downloads--and help from librarians to find what you're looking for. Remember, if it's not on the shelf, that doesn't mean you can't get it! Just ask about a hold, if you see it in the system, or Interlibrary Loan if you don't! Our goal is to help you find what you need.

Ever wonder what you're going to read next? Sometimes, you just need an idea to get started.

Each part of the library features displays--themed displays of same-colored books, similar subjects, points of interest to go along with programs, displays of multiple copies of books. This year's summer reading theme has inspired a travel book display, a folklore display, and a display of postcards sent to Juan Tabo from all over the country and all over the world.

Adults at Juan Tabo enjoy a wide variety of activities, from poetry readings to cooking programs to our monthly book group, BookWorms, which meets the second Tuesday of each month at 1:30, to talk about books they have chosen. The books represent a wide range of interest--recent titles have included both the classic play The Glass Menagerie and the YA novel The Giver--but the strongest interests have been in mysteries, New Mexico-related books, and current fiction and non-fiction. For the meeting on July 12, members are reading their choice of biographies about Eleanor Roosevelt--new members are welcome! August's book will be Child of Rainless Year, by Jane Lindskold.

Juan Tabo is also actively reaching out to teens, with our YA area--decorated by the new Teen Council--and many activities for teens. This summer, in conjunction with the summer reading theme of world travel, Juan Tabo has become the ancient Greek city-state of Juantapolis... a suggestion that first came from our teens, and was chosen from among many other options. This has inspired the creation of the Argonauts, our classical mythology club for teens and tweens, as well our Percy Jackson inspired game of Capture the Flag. Teenage leaders are also the driving force behind the teen Dungeons and Dragons group, the Gamers' Guild, which meets every Saturday this summer at 3:00 p.m. New members are welcome for all of these events!

The children's area is always fun, with its bright book characters hanging from the ceiling, the dinosaur rug, the puppet show, the zoo's worth of stuffed animals to play with, and our newest edition, a five foot tall blue plastic dinosaur, donated by Councilwoman Jones... who still has to be named! The rogues' gallery of puppets and stuffed animals are constantly in use, from Dragon the puppet to Teddy Tonks, the pink teddy bear and the gang leader, Captain Cupcake, the blue octopus. These well-loved friends are there to welcome children back whenever they come.

Children's programming happens all the time--whether it's Read to the Dogs on the fourth Saturday of each month, Lego Club on the second Saturday, or Art Through the Ages on the first Saturday, 1:00 is a great time to drop by. During summer reading, our programming takes place on Saturday mornings at 10:30. There are two storytimes available--either Music and Movement with Adrienne on Tuesday and Thursday at eleven, which features toe-tapping songs and musical instruments, or Preschool Passport with Miss Barbara on Fridays at eleven, which features more books, kids' control over Old McDonald's farm (and over languages for Frere Jacques) and a craft or coloring sheet.

Juan Tabo... what a wonderful world to visit!