Scottsdale public library

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http://www.scottsdalelibrary.org

Scottsdale Public Library History

• 1955 Lou Ann Noel and Beth Fielder started "loaning out" 300 donated books in a small room in the Adobe House.
• 1959 The Friends of the Scottsdale Library was established.
• 1960 The Town of Scottsdale assumed responsibility for the library and the first professional librarian was hired.
• 1968 The new main library opened for business. The main library was later renamed the Civic Center Library.
• 1987 Opening of the Mustang Library, Scotttsdale's first branch and, at the time, the largest branch library in Arizona.
• 1995 A new shared-use facility, Palomino Library, debuted. It is located on the campus of Desert Mountain High School and serves the public as well as the school students and staff.
• 1996 Scottsdale opened its second shared-use facility, the Arabian Library, on the campus of Desert Canyon Elementary and Middle Schools.
• 2007 Arabian's new home in McDowell Mountain Ranch Park is scheduled for completion in July.

History of the Scottsdale Public Library

-In the summer of 1955, Lou Ann Noel and Beth Fielder started "loaning out" about 300 donated books in a small room in the Adobe House, accompanied by their young children, a card table, a floor fan and a recipe file box. The "library" was open only two hours, two days a week. Shortly thereafter, the Scottsdale Women's Club was chartered, and adopted the library as a community service project. Collectively, they sorted books, checked records, began a physical inventory, and extended the hours to include one evening each week. The Civic Coordinating Council signed the necessary contract of responsibility with the library to continue as a depository branch of the County Library System.

-In 1959, the Friends of the Scottsdale Library was established to assist library service in the community. Their first membership campaign funded utilities, book processing supplies, and because of new community awareness, books were donated by the hundreds.

-In 1960, the Town of Scottsdale assumed responsibility for the Library as part of a city program. Shortly thereafter, the first professional librarian was hired, and 62 volunteers became the lifeblood of library service. The first Library Advisory Board was appointed and hours of service increased to 46 a week, and in 1964 the first professional library director was hired.

-In 1967, the Library was open 58 hours per week and plans for a new building were underway. A summer reading program was provided through school libraries and the first bookmobile was operating 30 hours a week and providing Homebound Service. The new main Library opened in 1968 with 37,000 sq. ft. This new Library was later renamed the Civic Center Library.

-In 1983, a $7.5 million bond program passed to expand the Civic Center Library and build the first branch library. The following year, public access to personal computers began.

-In 1987, the Mustang Library opened as Scottsdale Public Library's first branch. At 31,850 sq. ft., it was the largest branch library in Arizona. Year-round, 7-day a week service and 24-hour telephone renewals began in 1986.

-The Scottsdale School District negotiated an agreement in 1989 for a joint high school/public library. Named Palomino, this new branch was funded by a $14.3 million bond election that also provided for Civic Center Library expansion and an upgrade of the ATLAS online system.

-The new Palomino branch library debuted on the campus of Desert Mountain High School in 1995 and featured a CD-ROM network with 29 computer stations, Internet access, library instruction and research assistance for students, storytimes for children, a volunteer program, a book sale/gift shop, 24-hour book drop and meeting room rentals.

-Our second shared use facility, Arabian branch library, opened in 1996 on the campus of Desert Canyon Middle School and serves the 1,200 students of the elementary and middle school and McDowell Mountain Ranch community.

-The Library System's computer network has changed dramatically from terminals and CD-ROM workstations to a PC network with more than 200 workstations, with over 150 providing direct public access to the Internet. In concert with that, computer classes are available for customers and staff. In late 2003, the System enhanced the public access network by offering wireless Internet access so customers with their own laptop computers may use them at any building in the system.

-As more people move to the Valley of the Sun and our population continues to increase, the mission of the Scottsdale Public Library System remains more steadfast than ever: to provide a supportive environment for the community to discover opportunities, explore ideas, interact with others, and become lifelong learners.