Where the Books Are

September is National Literacy Month, and if you’re like most readers, you’ve got your favorite place to find the perfect read. The big guys, like Barnes & Noble or Hastings, are fine in a pinch, but we all know that when it comes to perusing the aisles in the hopes of finding just the right book, only a locally owned bookstore will do.

We asked you what your favorites are, and you responded! Courtney Makens of Las Cruces had this to say about COAS Bookstore, “It’s a great way to spend a couple hours with friends and family.” Erin Wendorf agrees, stating that they carry “any type of book you are interested in reading.”

Erica Vasquez threw her hat in the ring for Bowlin’s Mesilla Book Store, saying “They carry book titles you would not find at big box bookstores.” Pam Davis gave a shout out to Books Revisited in Alamogordo, for their “well-organized, and well-stocked variety.” The Reader’s Cove in Deming was the favorite of Deana Flowers, who said, “If you can’t find it there, it doesn’t exist!”

The favorite of Dale Belmont is Books Etcetera in Ruidoso, where “books by all my favorite authors” can be found. Sara Bean leans more toward Dog-Eared Paperbacks in Ruidoso, for “the best selection in town!” Black Cat Books & Coffee in Truth or Consequences sparked love from Edna Peebles for its, “endless selection of hard-to-find gems.”

The Silver City Book Shop was a favorite of many, including Bernadette Sanchez, who was enthusiastic about its “friendly atmosphere and great selection,” while Sandra Kinnard extoled the virtues of its “courteous staff and local selection.” Another Silver City favorite was O’Keefe’s Bookshop, loved by Ceil Murray for its “out-of-print treasures, and charming and knowledgeable owner.”

Obviously, we can’t run every comment made, but many thanks to everybody who responded to our survey. It’s clear that you love your bookstores! What follows is a list of all the locally owned shops that were chosen by you, the readers, as the best places to find a good read.

Alamogordo

Books Revisited, 3199 N. White Sands Blvd. Ste D3, Alamogordo. Hours: 12-5 p.m., Monday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. Info: 575-921-8002 or BooksRevisited.store

Star of the Morning, 1508 E. 10^th St., Alamogordo. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday. Info: 575-434-0865

Cloudcroft

Imaginary Books, 300 Burro Ave., Cloudcroft. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday; 1-5 p.m., Sunday. Info: 575-601-2012

Deming

Reader’s Cove Use Books & Gallery, 200 S. Copper St., Deming. Hours: 2-5 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday. Info: 575-544-2512 or ReadersCoveNM.com

Sexy Red Used Books, Sands Rd. NW, Deming. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday-Sunday. Info: 575-495-1704

Las Cruces

The Book Faerie, 4225 Harrison St., Las Cruces. Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Info: 575-647-9091

Casa Camino Real, 314 S. Tornillo St., Las Cruces. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. Info: 575-523-3988

COAS Bookstore, 317 N. Main St., Las Cruces. Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday; 12-6 p.m., Sunday. Info: 575-524-8471 or BookShop.org

COAS Books, 1101 S. Solano Dr., Las Cruces. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Info: 575-524-8471

Revival Fire, 2645 Missouri Ave., Las Cruces. Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Tuesday-Friday.  Info: 575-521-3811

Mesilla

Bowlins Mesilla Book Center, 2360 Calle Principal, Mesilla. Hours: 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday; 1-5 p.m., Sunday. Info: 575-334-3082

Ruidoso

Aberrant Moon, 200 Mechem Dr. Unit 3, Ruidoso. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday-Sunday. Info: 575-802-3543

Books Etcetera, 2340 Sudderth Dr., Ruidoso. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturday; 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sunday. Info: 575-257-1594 or RuidosoBookstore.com

Dog-Eared Books, 700 Mechem Dr. Ste 13B, Ruidoso. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, Info: 575-257-2228

Silver City

Avalon Books & Music, 810 N. Bullard St., Silver City. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Info: 575-956-6129

High-Lonesome Books, 26 High Lonesome Rd., Silver City. Hours: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.  Info: 575-388-7518

O’Keefe’s Bookshop, 102 W. Broadway St., Silver City. Hours: 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. Info: 575-297-9549

Silver City Book Shop, 104 W. Broadway St., Silver City. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday-Saturday. Info: 575-574-8633

SWAG Books and More, 409 N. Bullard St., Silver City. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday; 12-5 p.m., Sunday. Info: 575-388-1066

Truth or Consequences

Black Cat Books & Coffee, 128 N. Broadway, Truth or Consequences. Hours: 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday-Sunday  Info: 575-894-7070

Xochi’s, 430 N. Broadway, Truth or Consequences. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday. Info: 575-894-7685