Westside Library - El Paso Public Library

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

Foe by Iain Reid is a science fiction novel set in the near future. The main characters are a wife, Hen, and her husband, Junior. The couple live in a far-off farm and live a quiet, happy life. Then their lives are upended when Junior is selected to travel to space. But the biggest upset is that Junior will be replaced by an exact copy. The story itself has some twists and turns, but the parts I enjoyed the most were the atmospheric descriptions of life in this strange future. The world Hen and Junior inhabit is both familiar and haunting. It's also very strange. Find a copy of Foe at the library!

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

In 1852, Frederick Douglass was asked to give a 4th of July speech to an audience of white abolitionists. The title of his speech was "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" Douglass's speech emphasized that the 4th of July was only for those who were free: not for the slaves in the United States. He said, "What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim." Frederick Douglass would want all of us to remember on this day that freedom means freedom for all, not just some. Frederick Douglass grew up as a slave in Maryland. He was separated from his family when he was a baby and he only saw his mother during visits a few times before she died when he was 7. He was worked hard on the plantation of his owner and was forced to eat food out of a trough, like a farm animal. He was eventually sent to the home of Hugh Auld in ...

A Matter of Days by Amber Kizer  In this young adult book, a disease called Blustar has killed almost everyone in the country. Sixteen-year-old Nadia and her brother, Rabbit, survived, thanks to their uncle's help. Now they must travel across the country, alone, to find safety. Along the way, they find a dog in need, an interesting young city man attempting to farm and many people who don't have their best interests at heart. This story has a lot of heart and it reads like a thriller. You never know if things are going to be OK for our heroes from one page to the next. They must face thieves, gangs, and the harsh environment itself to survive. Nadia and Rabbit are believable and likable characters and watching them overcome the obstacles in their way is a compelling read. Recommended for middle grade and up. Find A Matter of Days  at your library or read it as an eBook online !

Juneteenth is a holiday that was first celebrated spontaneously on June 19, 1865. The event marked the freedom of slaves in Texas. For many years afterwards, the day was celebrated annually in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma by African Americans. It became less popular in the Twentieth Century, but a revival took place during the Civil Rights Movement. Between 2002 and 2007, the holiday also saw a resurgence in popularity. The importance of Juneteenth is to celebrate the freedom of black people in America and to remember the roots of slavery. The holiday is not always celebrated on the 19th. In many places, the third Saturday of the month is used to celebrate the holiday. Many celebrations include the Akan saying, Sankofa , which means "retrieving the past is no taboo, thus say the ancestors." Find out more using the library's TexShare databases: Hume J, Arceneaux N. Public Memory, Cultural Legacy, and Press Coverage of the Juneteenth Revival .   Journalism...