Alamogordo Library on PBS Reading Road Trip: How to Watch

PBS Books is taking its "American Stories: A Reading Road Trip" series to New Mexico, and the episode premieres Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 8 p.m. Eastern, which is 6 p.m. here in Alamogordo. You can watch it free on the PBS Books YouTube channel, the PBS Books Facebook page, the PBS app or pbs.org. According to the Alamogordo Public Library, our own library is one of the spots featured, so this is a fun one to watch with the family.

I love a little hometown pride, and a national show about books stopping in New Mexico is a great excuse to curl up on the couch Thursday night.

What is "American Stories: A Reading Road Trip"?

It is a PBS Books series made with the Library of Congress Center for the Book network. Each episode visits one state and looks at the authors, books, libraries, bookstores and real places that shaped its stories.

According to the PBS Books New Mexico episode page, the New Mexico stop covers writers like Rudolfo Anaya (Bless Me, Ultima), Leslie Marmon Silko, N. Scott Momaday, Luci Tapahonso and Anne Hillerman, who carries on the Navajo Nation mysteries her father, Tony Hillerman, made famous. The page also lists White Sands National Park among the landscapes in the episode.

When and where can I watch it?

Here is everything you need for Thursday night. The show is free to watch on every one of these.

Is the Alamogordo Public Library really in it?

According to the Alamogordo Public Library, the library is one of the places highlighted in the New Mexico episode. The PBS page itself does not list Alamogordo by name, and the library says it may be a short highlight, so watch for it rather than expecting a long segment.

Either way, it is a nice moment for a library that does so much for this town. The Alamogordo Public Library is at 920 Oregon Ave., and its main line is (575) 439-4140.

How can my family make a night of it?

Make it a reading night. Pick up a New Mexico book or two at the library earlier in the week, then watch the episode together after dinner. The library's hours and holiday closures page lists Wednesday and Thursday hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you have little ones, my post on free story time and kids programs at the Alamogordo library covers the weekly programs, and my library movie matinees post lists the free films.

And since White Sands is in the episode too, it might inspire a trip to the dunes this weekend. My White Sands Sunset Stroll post is a good place to start.

What does this mean for people living here or moving here?

A town's library says a lot about its community. Ours offers free programs for kids, free movie matinees and a quiet place to read, work or study.

If you are thinking about moving to Alamogordo, it is one of the first places I tell newcomers to visit. Stopping in is an easy way to start feeling at home. My moving to Alamogordo guide covers the rest of the basics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Episode details come from the PBS Books New Mexico event page, and the library's role comes from the Alamogordo Public Library, as of 11 November 2026. Air times and platforms can change, so check PBS Books before you tune in.