In 2008, the City of El Paso planned to remove the Westside Library. However, hundreds of people came out to support our library and it was saved. Read more here: El Paso Times July 23, 2008
Former Westside Library branch manager, Margaret Burlingame, was honored at the Bookmark. The Bookmark is the bookstore owned and operated by the Friends of the Westside Library. Read more here: El Paso Times February 20, 1991
JC Penny and the Westside library sponsored a workshop for teen girls at the library, advertised on this day in 1996. The girls, starting at age 13, would get free skin and hair care tips. Read more here: El Paso Times 18 July 1996
Five books were donated to the Westside Library in July of 1979 in order to honor the memories of the Cole family, who died in a fire in April. Barbara Cole, who died in the fire, had been part of the board of directors of the Friends of the West Side Branch Library. Read more here: El Paso Times 11 June 1979
An Open House reception was planned so that the community could preview the new Westside Library. At the time, the Westside Library was the first library branch opened in 27 years and was the first to be paid for by "direct community contributions for partial structure payment." People could meet the new staff members, Bill Lockhart and Lisa Bunker. Read more here: El Paso Times December 7, 1988
The Friends of the Westside Library held a rare book sale at the library in September of 1990. Books included autographed copies from famous authors. Marjorie Cunningham, a member of the Friends group, is pictured. Read more here: El Paso Times 19 September 1990
On this day in 1987, the City held groundbreaking ceremonies for the new building for the Westside Library. The land for the new library was donated by Jane Burges Perrenot and the community raised $150,000 to help create the library. The new building, which is still here on 125 Belvidere, started out with a collection of 30,000 books. Read more here: El Paso Times 12 September 1987
As part of the end of Summer Reading Club celebration in August of 1990, a troupe of young actors performed Pinnochio at the Westside Library. This was their third time performing at the library. Read more here: El Paso Times 1 August 1990
The Friends of the Westside Libraries' bookstore, the Bookmark, relocated to its current location on Remcon Road. The new store opened its doors on July 11, 2002. The new store was much larger at 2,850 square feet than the old location at the Promenade Shopping Center on Mesa street. Proceeds from the sale of used books goes towards programs and books at the Westside Libraries. Read more here: El Paso Times 12 July 2002
Terry Alvarez, a storyteller, came to the Westside Library on this day in 2007. Alvarez was part of that years' Summer Reading program. See more here: El Paso Times 2 July 2007
Director of the El Paso Public Libraries and the El Paso Public Library Association made plans to use a trailer for the location of the new Westside Library. The trailer had previously been used to house the Pavo Real Branch Library in Ysleta. Read more here: El Paso Herald-Post 16 June 1977
Getting ready for the upcoming election, the El Paso Times printed bond issue improvements to be voted on. The Westside Library was in the bond issue for $1.6 million which would include construction of the building, books and furniture. Read more here: El Paso Times 5 April 1979
Using natural and recycled materials, Westsider, Mary Ann Herman, makes dolls. The dolls were made of rocks, plastic, cotton balls and any other material Herman thought could be repurposed. Herman displayed her collection of dolls at the Westside Library in April of 1998. Read more here: El Paso Times 1 April 1998
The Friends of the Westside library met on February 19, 1980 and met the new library director, Nathan Josel, for the first time. Officers were elected for the group and refreshments were served. Read more here: El Paso Times 12 February 1980
A classical music concert for Valentine's Day was promoted on this day in 2009. The Westside Library would be hosting classical guitarist, Peter Fletcher, who would play from Music of the Baroque . You can check out Peter's music at the library . See more at: El Paso Times 1 February 2009
Margaret Burlingame was the first librarian to head the Westside Library branch. She started working at the Westside Library in 1978, when it was no more than just a trailer located at the Westside Recreation Center. Burlingame announced her retirement in January of 1991. Read more here: El Paso Times 10 February 1991
In order to raise money for the new Westside Library, the Friends of the Library held a book sale at the Thunderbird Bowling Alley in December of 1977. Read more here: El Paso Herald-Post 15 December 1977
The Westside Branch Library was first opened on Saturday, December 9, 1978. The library was run out of a trailer in the Westside Park Recreational area. It had one librarian, Margaret Burlingame, and two assistants, Grace Medrano and Ivo Gomez. The library was funded through used book sales from the Friends of the Westside Library. Read more about it: El Paso Times , 8 December 1978