There’s a new bookstore in Las Cruces, but the location may surprise you. Situated inside the Computer Lab on the first floor of the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, Bearto’s Book Den is now open for business. Under the leadership of the Friends of the Library, Bearto’s is a one-stop shop for all your bibliophilic needs.
“Sarah Booth, our Deputy Director of the Library, was very helpful in finding a little corner for us to set up shop,” said Lynda St. Clair, president of the Friends. “One of the librarians painted it for us in the City’s colors, and Dolores Tellez, who runs the bookstore, put up the shelves and decorations. The volunteers came and helped stock and we were off and running.”
The gently used books sold in the bookstore come to the library in a variety of ways. Most are donations and cover a wide variety of topics, according to Tellez.
“We have fiction, nonfiction, popular authors, children and young adults, southwest, DVDs, coffee table books, large print, we have it all,” she said. “We do take donations, we just don’t accept magazines, textbooks, or VHS tapes.”
“We get a lot of book donations,” St. Clair adds. “People are very generous in this community. Some people come and buy books, then donate them back when they’re finished.”
Here’s Bearto
The name for the bookstore is taken from the mascot who sits just inside the main doors of the library, greeting guests as they enter. Carved in 1986 from Douglas fir, and standing 63 inches high, Bearto was created by artist Peter Wolf Toth. He was purchased by the City of Las Cruces for $2000 and was transferred to the library in 2001.
“It’s part of the city’s art collection,” said St. Clair. “We did a naming contest in October of last year and got around 40 entries. Shon Mansinon, one of the former security guards who used to sit next to the bear, came up with Bearto’s Book Den. That was the hands-down winner.”
The mascot in place, the store became a reality on January 7, 2025.
Credit where due
Mona Charney, vice president of the Friends, credits the volunteers who make up the Friends organization, for bringing Bearto’s to life.
“One of the things we are really, really proud of is this bookstore is one hundred percent volunteer,” she said.
“Every member of the Friends board is a volunteer, so we are one hundred percent volunteer driven,” Tellez adds.
“It just amazes me the generosity of our community,” Charney continues. “We have a sign-up list for people to volunteer every month. It’s just a wonderful way to buy affordable books for all ages. Just about anything you might want to read. And the proceeds benefit library programs.”
Sarah Booth enthusiastically agrees. “The Friends of the Library have done an amazing job of getting the store up and running and, as Mona said, not only are you getting books, but you’re supporting the library.”
All proceeds benefit programs that foster literacy and a lifelong love of reading and learning, including the summer reading program, adult programs, and craft programs.
“The Friends do an awful lot for the library, and we are incredibly grateful,” said Booth. “The city recently purchased a van for us to use in our outreach programs. The Friends are going to help outfit the van with a little ramp and some shelves. We’re also helping with the renovation and expansion of the library, so the Friends can have a real store with four walls, instead of just a corner.”
Bearto’s Book Den is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday. They take credit cards and are always looking for new volunteers. For more information, email the Friends at TBMLFriends@gmail.com
