Library Advisory Board Cites Lingering COVID Fallout, Road Construction in FY26 Annual Report

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — July 27, 2026 —

The Alamogordo Public Library Advisory Board's annual report for the year ending June 30, 2026, one of five board and committee reports before the city commission for approval Tuesday, describes a board that met regularly but irregularly — convening eight times out of twelve possible months — while grappling with what members describe as a persistent, multi-year decline in library visits.

The board, created under Article 16-02 of the city code, advises both the city and Otero County commissions on library management and is tasked with keeping itself informed of library needs, recommending facility and program development, and encouraging greater public use of the library. It is composed of seven unpaid members serving two-year terms: five city residents appointed by the mayor and two county residents outside city limits appointed by the Otero County Commission. Kim Underwood, the city librarian, serves as an ex officio member.

According to the report, the board did not meet in January or February 2026 due to illness, nor in April; a called meeting in May failed to reach a quorum. Aside from those lapses, the report describes attendance over the year as "very good," with absences attributable to illness or excused reasons. The board's current roster includes Vice Chair Rhonda Alterson, Cynthia Stevenson, Chairperson Richard Warren — now in his fourth term — John Davis, Pamela Vesey, county appointee Brad Nichols, and one vacant county seat.

The report attributes the ongoing softness in library usage to a combination of factors: continuing fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, road construction around the library at 920 Oregon Avenue, and a shrinking school-age population that has reduced the number of student visitors. Board discussions during the year centered on whether current marketing efforts are adequately building public awareness of library programs and services, with members exploring additional outreach strategies. Warren, an American Library Association member, is credited in the report with relaying security updates and training opportunities to fellow board members, and with helping review both ongoing and new library programming, including discussion of potential expanded hours.

The report was submitted by Warren on June 24, 2026, with Underwood and liaison Melissa Garcia credited for maintaining member packets and years of meeting minutes for easy reference. The board meets at 4 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month, in person or remotely.

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