Las Cruces voters to decide $26 million Branigan Library GO bond

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) - Election day will decide if planned renovations to the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library will go forward by voting on the $26 million GO Bond to fund the project.

Officials say the project will be funded through property taxes, moving to the ballot after unanimously passing through city council.

The project is expected to add 20,000 square feet to the library through a redesign of the entrance as well as expanding spaces like the children's area, in addition to making changes to be more ADA-compliant.

This includes making changes to the rows of bookshelves, which Library Deputy Director Sarah Booth said are too close as well as too tall.

Booth said the building is due for renovation as the city has "outgrown it", just as it did with the previous library, which is now the Branigan Cultural Center.

The bond passing, in Booth's words, would give residents 'the library of their dreams that they deserve.'