NEWSLETTER

BOOKISH

October 2025

Hello Library and Book Lovers!

You know fall is here when balloons are in the Albuquerque sky. Have you ever thought

about how walking through the International Balloon Fiesta is like walking through a library and trying to find your next great read?

Like a book, each balloon has its own cast of characters, creates its unique visuals, and moves at its own pace. And whether you are on the ground reading your favorite book or in a balloon looking down, the experience is never the same twice.

Fall is also the time when the Albuquerque Public Library Foundation prepares for our annual fall appeal. Soon your home mailbox and email inbox are likely to be overflowing with requests for end-of-year donations. I am making our first appeal in this message that you support the Albuquerque Public Library Foundation with a monetary donation.

APLF has said before and we’ll keep saying it: the programs at the Albuquerque and Bernalillo Public Library could not exist without your donations. With all the talk about library bonds, taxes, and other revenue streams, that can be a bit hard to imagine.

To help you understand how our libraries are funded, we’ve worked in partnership with the Friends of the Public Library to create an infographic showing how our local library system gets its funding. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Whatever activity you find yourself doing this fall, I hope it brings you joy and a warm heart. As always, I appreciate you, our library community.

Eryka McKenzie

President, APLF Board of Directors

2025 Annual Fall Appeal

To all lovers of libraries, APLF will be asking for your help again in November and December with our Annual Fall Appeal. The budget of the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Public Libraries does not include money for programs or most services.

The money needed for these items comes from donors like you, so please back up your love of libraries with a financial donation before the end of the year. See our infographic for more information on how libraries are funded.

2024-2025 Impact Report Coming Soon

To donors who contributed to APLF this year, look for our annual Impact Report that will be available in late October. It will document the library’s programs and services that were supported by your donations – dollars spent, number of programs, along with library patron participation. You are the ones who make these programs and services possible. Thank you again for your generosity!

Welcome to the Mad Farmer Garden - downstairs at Main Library, where we ask the question, "How do you grow food in half a city block of concrete and brick Brutalist architecture with no tillable soil?" Or, for that matter, what if you rent a place and can’t dig up the yard? Maybe all you have is a small porch or patio but you still want to grow a garden? Never fear! Our Mad Gardener is here! The first issue of the Mad Gardener Gazette is available here!

Next class is Urban Homesteading, scheduled for

Saturday, October 11th, 10:30 at Main Library - 501 Copper NW

Urban homesteading usually revolves around gardening and small-scale farming, often incorporating things like raising chickens and bee keeping along with a strong do-it-yourself ethos. Come join us as we look into this unique lifestyle, and, if you're already living the dream, come share your insights and experience.

Subscribe to the Mad Farmer Gazette! You'll be informed of upcoming classes and events, along with encouragement, advice, and usually a little poetry. All are welcome.

Young Adult and Teen Fiction are very popular categories these days. The Friends have created special young adult sections in their bookshop, their monthly sale, and in the pop-up sales happening at branches around the city. Generally all are priced at 75 cents a book, paperback or hardcover!

The Albuquerque Public Library Foundation raises money to enrich Library programs, services, and facilities not covered by public funding.

Our vision is to support the pursuit of knowledge, community life, and limitless learning

opportunities for everyone.

The Friends of the Public Library raises money to fund educational and literacy programs along with other community activities.

Join the Friends of the Public Library to stay informed and get discounts at their bookstore and book sales.

The Library Advisory Board serves as a liaison between the community and its City and County government.

Stay informed of all the Library Advisory Board activities and priorities through their newsletter.





Smith’s Inspiring Donations will donate 0.5% of all eligible spending to APLF that customers have linked to their Rewards Card.

This no-cost program makes donating easy based on the shopping you do every day.Once you link your Rewards Card to APLF @ CW809, all you have to do is keep shopping at Smith’s and swipe your Shopper’s Card.

APLF raises funds to enrich Library programs, services

and facilities not covered by public funding

throughout Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, New Mexico.

APLF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization;

all gifts are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

ContactUs@abqlibraryfoundation.org. We would love to hear from you!