Junior League, chamber open Young Park little library

The Junior League of Las Cruces (JLLC) in conjunction with the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting for the grand opening of JLLC’s Little Free Library on the playground area of Young Park, 850 S. Walnut St., at 2 p.m. Monday, March 6.

The event is open to everyone.

JLLC started its Little Free Library as part of its “A Book of My Own” initiative, which is dedicated to ensuring all children in the community have access to books of their own, JLLC said in a news release. The books in the little library were donated by COAS Books.

In addition to its little library, JLLC also provides books to every student at select local elementary schools, JLLC said.

“In 2019, JLLC recognized that our community is engulfed in a literacy crisis,” the news release said. “New Mexico consistently ranks last each year in education. Only 24 percent of fourth graders in New Mexico read proficiently. In low-income neighborhoods, there is a ratio of one age-appropriate book for every 300 children, and 26 percent of New Mexico’s children are living in poverty.”

To combat this crisis, JLLC created “A Book of My Own,” the organization said.

In 2020, JLLC began by providing books to all students at Central Elementary School, giving out more than 300 books. In 2021, JLLC provided books to each student at Central and Doña Ana elementaries, the news release said, giving out more than 600 books. In 2022, JLLC gave out books to each student at Central, Doña Ana and Cesar Chavez elementaries – more than 1,000 books.

This year, JLLC will provide books to each student at Central, Doña Ana, Cesar Chavez and Booker T. Washington elementaries, the club said.

“JLLC hopes to continue adding a school to A Book of My Own each year, until every elementary student in our community receives a book of their own to take home every year, creating their own little home library,” the news release said.

JLLC said it also provides books to the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) in Las Cruces “so every child in CYFD custody also receives a book of their own.”

The ribbon cutting will kick off JLLC’s week-long annual A Book of My Own fundraiser, March 6-11. Proceeds will support JLLC’s literacy programs. Donate at www.jllc.org/donate or by mailing a check to Junior League of Las Cruces, P.O. Box 342, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88004.

For more information, including an interest in joining JLLC, contact JLLC President Tilli McCarthy Villalobos at juniorleaguelc@gmail.com.