Free Libraries for Milan Residents

MILAN, N.M. – Reading is the cornerstone of young education and important to gaining comprehension skills from a young age. Along with the Grants Public Library, there are other options in Cibola County to access books that are free. Bill McElroy, the Parks Recreation Director at the time, had his Free Libraries Created by Valentin Roybal in 2014. He got the idea from a similar program in Albuquerque. McElroy would often receive books from people and needed something he could do with them. He also enjoyed reading and wanted to give others the opportunity in the local Milan neighborhoods to enjoy reading as well. There is one in front of the Village of Milan, one by the pool on Airport Road, and one by Zion Ministries off of Route 66. The idea was to take a book and leave a book so the people of the community could all benefit from it. There is also the possibility of updates to the Free Libraries in the future as well to ring attention to those who don’t know about them.

Another option available to the residents of Cibola County for young children is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. In 1996, Dolly Parton began giving a book a month to every child from birth to age five in her hometown. Since then, her program has grown across the United States. The program is being sponsored by PMS Cibola County Home Visiting Program, Cibola General Hospital, Cibola Family Health Center, the Grants Public Library, and the Recreation Center/Swimming Pool in Milan. Registration is simple and the program is free. Forms are available at the sponsoring locations or online at www.imaginationlibrary.c om. The only requirements are that the child resides in Cibola County and is under five years of age. The Imagination Library will then provide a free book to the child every month until their fifth birthday.