Photos and article by Melia Moore.

Photo: A new MRAC Youth Mural Program mural graces the new Gila Valley Library.

A celebration of volunteers and the new Gila Valley Library was held Sunday, Jan. 13, at the Gila Senior Center in Gila, NM. A video of the new library construction was shown, followed by recognition of the volunteers, a raffle for two Kindles, and refreshments.

Photo: Marley Williams age 13 from Cliff Junior High with her mother Riley Olsen, an art teacher from Cliff Elementary School. Olsen was an assistant artist for the new mural that is at the front entrance of the new library.

The celebration marked five years of waiting to bring a new library to the community of Gila. Fundraisers and donations included a very large donation from Hidalgo Medical Services, who gave their former building to be used as the new building the library now calls home. Dale Marcy, chairwoman of the Board of Trustees, and Paul Leetmae, who hosted the celebration, honored long time Library Director and volunteer Phyllis Reiche.

"Volunteers are caring in motion. They don't necessarily have the time, but they have the heart," said Marcy.

Photo: Dale Marcy speaks of the hard work of many volunteers.