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High Desert Organic GardenersSilver City New Mexico |
Introduction: Our area often gets described as impoverished--especially when it comes to library collections and services. However, our local public and academic libraries contain considerable resources we can all enjoy once we "learn the system." We can help improve collections by requesting new gardening books and by donating recent books in good condition. Fact: public libraries exist to pool scarce resources and spread the wealth. I hope the following guide will help you unearth (and enhance) the treasures therein. (Let's explore ideas for identifying, listing, and sharing books in future meetings.) eMail Me Suggestions etc.) l. Public Libraries 1. The best starting place is the Public Library in Silver City, located at 505 College Ave. Phone: 538-3672. Online catalog URL: If you like to browse, most gardening books are in the 635 to 635.99 section, with a few others in 631. SCPL has about 8 shelves to look through. For remote searching, type in URL above, choose "Library" from list of City Departments, then "Catalog", then click on "Online Catalog." Search by author or title or the 635 call number or subject ("organic gardening, "container gardening," etc.) "Organic gardening" got 16 hits; "vegetable gardening" got 18 hits. Just plain "Gardening" brought up five pages giving call number, title, author, and availability (in or checked out) Sample books in catalog: 635 Rio Carrots Love Tomatoes Riotto IN SCPL also has gift subscriptions to Organic Gardening and Mother Earth News; however, staff display and keep only the past six months of all magazines, then place discarded issues on free table! Issues can be informally checked out for a couple of weeks. Rules: Library cards are free, but cost $5 to replace if lost. Books may be checked out for three weeks and may be renewed once in person, with book and library card in hand. Fines are not charged for overdue books, but are assessed for even minor damage. Each card-holder is allowed 6 interlibrary loan requests annually (to obtain books NOT in collection; doesn't include lost or stolen books!) Suggesting Books (and magazines) you want to read: A new fiscal year is starting (mo' money!), so staff are welcoming suggestions of new books (CDs, audiotapes, magazines) to order on all topics. It is best to request a few "official" title suggestion cards at the front desk, fill them out (author, title, publisher, publication date, book review source (if you know one), your name and phone number). You can find this info by going online to Amazon.com or to Books in Print or WorldCat (via an excellent service provided by Miller Library called FirstSearch: firstsearch.org Authorization number: 100219120 Password: mars12bar). There are scads of indexes therein covering articles in journals and magazines that you might find either at Miller or request via ILL. Librarians can help you choose which ones cover gardening topics.) Hint: Get a few of us or other friends to request the same title; that way, it has a better chance of being ordered. Also, do so as individuals, not as group members! 2. Deming Public Library (a.k.a. Marshall Memorial Library), re-located at 110 Diamond Ave.--two blocks down from Si Senor Restaurant on Pine St. Phone: 505-926-5202. Online catalog URL: Deming Library Deming PL is 52 miles away, but friendly and easy to use. Nice atmosphere in an attractively remodeled city building. Library cards are free to Grant County residents; books can be checked out for 3 weeks and renewed once over the phone. The organic gardening section appears to be twice as large as SCPL's (at least 31 titles), "vegetable gardening" brings up 25 titles, and there are nearly 230 books under "gardening." Some books are less recent, but that might be a plus. Good periodical collection, including subscriptions (I think) to Organic Gardening and Mother Earth News. DPL, like SCPL, only keeps a few months of back issues. Sample books in Deming PL's catalog: 635.9 B977ho How to get started in southwest gardening (2005) Busco available 3. Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, located at 200 E. Picacho Blvd., Las Cruces. Has over 200,000 volumes. Phone: 505-528-4000. Online Catalog URL: Thomas Branigan Memorial Library It's possible to get a free photo-ID card and check books out when in Cruces (renewable online or by phone), but you may prefer to request books you find at Branigan via ILL at SC Public Library. Decent collection, but those of SCPL and DPL are comparable for their size! Perhaps our group can develop a cooperative checking out and dropping off system when using Branigan, the biggest public library (200,000 volumes) in southern New Mexico. II. Academic Library J. Cloyd Miller Library at WNMU--up the hill via College Avenue or 11th Steet. On second foor of the Memorial Student Union Bldg. Phone: 538-6359 (Reference Services) and 538-6176 (Circulation Desk). Online Catalog URL: voyager.wnmu.edu Miller Library has friendly, knowledgeable staff and a small, mostly vintage collection of organic gardening books (cataloged by Library of Congress system) in the SB section of upstairs stacks (3rd floor). There are a few recent publications on New Mexico-style gardening in the NM X 313. 43 H section in Government Documents on the main 2nd floor. Sample books in Miller Library Catalog: SB 4535 .R633 1992 Rodale's All-New Encylopedia of Organic Gardening Available Miller also has back issues (mostly on microfiche) of Organic Gardening (1980 to 1998) and a subscription to Mother Earth News (1980 to present). They are located on the main floor near documents dept; there are spacious reading areas and tables near windows with a view! No magazines or journals may be checked out, but copy cards may be purchased for duplicating articles. Any local resident can get a free library card by showing a valid I.D. like a NM driver's license. Books circulate for only 2 weeks, however, and cannot be renewed unless you pay $25 (annually, starting in Jan) to Miller Library Friends. In return, you are allowed to renew books and request a maximum of 12 interlibrary loan books and/or articles. If you pay $50, you get 50 ILL books! (I currently have a $25 membership, but next year would love to share a $50 membership with 2 other avid readers.) Please note: The above guide is pretty basic, so please ask library staff members for assistance if you need it. Don't be shy about asking for (demanding) a reference librarian if the person you ask doesn't seem helpful. Compiled by Margaret Hadderman, |
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