The Friends of the Westside Libraries was formed in 1975 by 4 members of the University Women’s Association who raised money through a monthly used book sale for a new library on the Westside of El Paso. The Friends of the Westside Branch of the El Paso Public Library became a 501(c)3 corporation in 1978. In 1984, Jane Burgess Perenot donated land for the new library and the Westside Building Fund Committee, under the guidance of Dorris Van Doren raised enough money by 1988 to build the library that now stands at 125 Belvidere.

The Friends continued their work supporting the El Paso Public Libraries through the sale of used books generously donated to us by El Pasoans. We now operate our own bookstore at 7348 Remcon Circle and support three libraries—Westside, Dorris Van Doren and Armijo as well as the Chamizal Express Library and the Enrique Moreno Express Library on Alameda. The funds we raise for these libraries supports book purchases, afterschool programming, special community programming and literacy advocacy. We support the El Paso Public Library’s Dia de Los Niños/Dia de los Libros events each year.

We are supported in turn by our 585 members who pay $5.00 a year in membership dues, as well as by our wonderful volunteers who help our small staff of 4 by shelving books and cashiering during store hours. Members and volunteers receive discounts at the store, and we have special sales each year exclusively for our members. The bookstore is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 PM to 7 PM and Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 AM to 3 PM. Volunteer inquiries are always welcome!

The Friends of the Westside Libraries appreciate your support of literacy and our libraries through your generous donation to us! Funds raised through the El Paso Giving Day campaign will help us sustain our operations allowing us to continue to support our Libraries and their programming.