New Librarian Chosen for Magdalena Library

By John Larson

MAGDALENA – Yvonne Magener has been hired to replace Lucy Pino as Magdalena’s librarian. The choice was made village’s board meeting on Monday, Nov. 22, after the recommendation was made by Trustee Carmen Torres.
Three candidates were interviewed on Nov. 9 by a special committee consisting of Torres, Mayor Sandy Julian, Clara Lucero and Susan Schuhardt.
Torres said that she felt all three candidates – Magener, Don Wiltshire and Del Redhair – were qualified.
“We went through the applications and had discussions with each one,” said Torres. “We had different categories and scored each one on a five point scale. We figured that was the best way to do it. All had unbelievably good answers.”
“It’s too bad I can’t have all three of them,” she added.
Magener is the current librarian at Alamo. She is scheduled to begin her new position here on Dec. 13.
“I’m thrilled to bits,” she said. “I love our little library, and am proud to be chosen. I want to keep the library strong and will gladly take the advice from the library board and all the volunteers.”
She said she will try to start developing plans to offer more activities and functions for senior citizens.
“We have such a beautiful space for a wide variety of activities,” she said. “I would love to see more seniors coming in. I also want to keep our services for school children going, and possibly add to them.”
Magener also thanked Don Wiltshire for his help as temporary librarian.
Julian said the library should be run by the librarian and the volunteers, whom she has confidence in.
Magener, a visual artist by trade, is no stranger to the village, having lived in Magdalena for the past 14 years.
In other village business:
•    The board voted to change the village board meetings from the second and fourth Mondays to the first and third Mondays. The change will go into effect in January, with the first meeting of the year on Monday, Jan. 3. The meeting time will remain at 6 p.m.
•    Clerk Rita Broaddus announced that she and Deputy Clerk Carleen Gomez would be heading up the Secret Santa project again this year. “All gifts have to be in by Dec. 2 and Santa will be delivering them on Christmas Eve,” she said. The tree will be up by Dec. 1.
•    Mayor Sandy Julian reported that the village will be receiving two vehicles free of charge from the Eddy County sheriff’s department in two to three weeks.
•    The board voted not to replace the engine in one of the Marshal’s office vehicles, a 1998 Ford Expedition. “It would more expensive to fix it than it is worth,” Trustee Barbara Baca said. “I move to junk it.”

New Librarian Chosen for Magdalena Library