City councilors are considering naming Santa Fe’s Main Library for a local historian, apparently to mute criticism of a proposed $1 million deal to put a New Mexico businessman’s name on the new south-side library.

In response to a recommendation by the Santa Fe Library Board, City Councilor Miguel Chavez last month proposed naming the Southside Branch Library for the late Mike J. Maloof.

The Maloof family, which became known for banking, liquor-distribution and other business interests in the state, recently responded to the library board’s suggestion that anyone who donated $1 million to the library’s endowment fund should get naming rights for the new south-side library.

However, members of a City Council committee on Monday added a new twist by suggesting the city also name its downtown Main Library after the late Pedro Ribera Ortega, a historian and educator who was active in Hispanic cultural organizations.

Ortega’s family hasn’t offered any financial gift. However, his name previously had been proposed for placement on the Southwest Room at the Main Library.

On Monday, Councilor Carmichael Dominguez amended Chavez’s resolution, saying the city should name the entire Main Library for Ortega, who in 1956 helped found the Caballeros de Vargas, a group that plays a prominent role in the annual Fiesta de Santa Fe.

The proposal could conflict with a resolution passed earlier this year that requires an open nominating process prior to naming any city building, park, plaza or street. While Ortega’s name was nominated for the south-side library, there was no nomination process for the Main Library building.

Dominguez told the Public Works Committee on Monday that he didn’t know Maloof but had developed “a personal connection” to Ortega while portraying Don Diego de Vargas, the leader of the 1692 reconquest of Santa Fe, during the 2000 Santa Fe Fiesta. “I never hesitated to take the opportunity to go up and talk to him because he was a scholar,” Dominguez said.

Councilor Ron Trujillo, who portrayed de Vargas in the 1994 fiesta, dismissed the notion that Santa Fe is “for sale” if the city names the south-side library for Maloof. But given Maloof’s background as the president of a wholesale-beverage firm, he said, naming an industrial park for him might be more appropriate than a library.

Most of the 14 people who spoke at the public hearing, many of them members of the Caballeros de Vargas, supported naming the Main Library for Ortega and the south-side library for Maloof.

But one person who spoke at the hearing, Sergio Rodriguez, said given the many Mexican immigrants living on Santa Fe’s far south side, the south-side library should be named for Lázaro Cárdenas, president of Mexico from 1934 through 1940.

“Everything is in the hands of (native) Hispanos and they don’t let us in,” said Rodriguez, who said he immigrated from Mexico 20 years ago.

Caballeros de Vargas member Samuel Delgado called Ortega the perfect namesake for the Main Library. “He was Mr. Library,” he said. “He was Mr. Books.” Delgado said the city is headed in “a sad direction” by accepting money for naming city facilities.

Grace Grill of the volunteer group Friends of the Library said while some have implied there is “a taint where money is involved,” the Library Board also considered Maloof’s civic achievements. The state has named buildings for people who donated money, and “no one would say the state has sold its soul,” she said.

The four councilors on the Public Works Committee voted unanimously to accept Dominguez’s amendment and recommend the full council pass the resolution. The issue now goes to the city Finance Committee.

Ortega died in January 2003 at age 71. Maloof died in March 2006 at age 75.

The 25,000-square-foot south-side library, built with a budget of $6.75 million, opened on Jaguar Drive on March 24. The endowment would help pay for operations and maintenance.

The 36,000-square-foot Main Library on Washington Avenue occupies a remodeled former City Hall. After City Hall relocated to the former Santa Fe High School on Lincoln Avenue, the Washington Avenue building was renovated and reopened as a library in 1987.

Contact Tom Sharpe at 995-3813 or tsharpe@sfnewmexican.com.