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| Click on picture above for Camarena Library Website |
The Camarena Memorial Library provides traditional and innovative library services, using the latest technology, in a friendly atmosphere, reflecting Calexico’s unique border character.
Reference services are designed to help patrons with research, assignments, hobbies or special interests. In addition, library staff offer a variety of programs for all ages including pre-schoolers, teens, adults and seniors. The library staff accommodates and assists with group visits and special family events.
The library provides many activities to the community including the 1,000 Books for Before kindergarten, adult literacy programs, summer family reading programs, after-school homework assistance, adult book discussions, weekly story hours, pre-schooler music and movement classes, craft programs for school-age children and many more programs, services and activities. It partners with community groups to sponsor programs with such organizations as the Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo and Calexico Neighborhood House. During FY2014, 13,647 people attended various library programs.
The library is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on every other Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The library maintains an active Facebook page to post information and pictures informing the community about library services. The library also has a web page in English and Spanish where all notices and information is posted.
The Carnegie Technology Center is a branch of the Library. This was the home of Calexico’s first library and was built in 1918 through a $10,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation. It is now a community computer center where people can have free internet access. It is equipped with 18 lap tops and provides free w-fi throughout the entire building. Introduction to the Internet and E-mail classes are offered on a weekly basis and special programs are offered for preschool children, using a wide range of learning software. In addition, classes on Pinterst, eBay and Facebook are offered as well. The Calexico Neighborhood House has provided several workshops for small businesses and other topics.
The Carnegie Technology Center is open Monday through Thursday from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Each month 500-600 people use the Center. The Carnegie Technology Center does not have any staff allocations. Staff from the main library are assigned to help keep this building open to the public. Partnerships with other organizations such as Calexico Neighborhood House and Imperial Valley College help the Community Service Department stretch the tight budget dollars to provide services year-round.
During FY2014, the library checked out 42,703 books, and checked out another 41,544 library items housed in the library. The library purchased 2,285 new books, issued 1,823 library cards provided free Internet to 15,901 users.