Maricopa County Library District
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maricopa County Library District (MCLD), established in 1929, is a public library system located in southern Arizona. MCLD serves residents of Maricopa County, Arizona, one of the fastest growing counties in the U.S. The Library District serves unincorporated areas plus it partners with cities/towns and school districts to run their libraries. The District has averaged opening two new libraries, or larger buildings for existing libraries, a year since 1999. It currently operates 15 libraries with more on the way.
The Administrative Offices of MCLD are located at 2700 North Central, Suite 700 Phoenix, Az 85004. The phone number for the Library District is (602)652-3000.
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[edit] Branches
51300 West U.S. 60 Aguila, AZ 85320
17811 N 32nd Street Phoenix, AZ 85032
11350 W. Civic Center Drive Avondale, AZ 85323
14011 N. 1st Avenue El Mirage, AZ 85335
12901 N. La Montana Dr. Fountain Hills, AZ 85268
202 N Euclid Gila Bend, AZ 85337
- Goodyear Branch (2009)
9241 S Avenida del Yaqui Guadalupe, AZ 85283
15844 N Hollyhock Surprise, AZ 85374
101 W Wigwam Blvd Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
40410 North Gavilan Peak Parkway Anthem, AZ 85086
16089 N. Bullard Avenue Surprise, AZ 85374
1965 E. Queen Creek Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85296
22407 S Ellsworth Rd Queen Creek, AZ 85242
9330 E Riggs Rd Sun Lakes, AZ 85248
775 N Greenfield Rd Gilbert, AZ 85234
[edit] Mission, Vision & Values
[edit] Mission
The mission of Maricopa County Library District is to provide access to a wealth of informational and recreational resources for people of all ages and backgrounds so that they may have the opportunity to expand their horizons through reading and learning.
[edit] Vision
Maricopa County Library District’s vision is to exceed customer expectations by giving our best and transforming ourselves daily through innovation and relationship building
[edit] Values
- A Responsive Customer Focus
- Integrity and Professionalism
- Quality Service, Staff and Collections
- Trust, Respect and Courtesy
- Creativity and Innovation
- Equal Service to a Diverse Community
- Internal and External Collaboration and Cooperation
- Humor and a Can-Do Spirit
[edit] Collections & Services
An emphasis on a popular materials collection along with the marketing slogan, Your Unexpected Oasis, echoes the District’s spirit of giving customers what they want. Multiple copies of best-sellers are prominently displayed on bookstore-like shelves near library entrances and a large collection of DVDs is extremely popular with library customers. 24x7 ASK! ---is another way the District enhances customer service---one can get an answer to a question from a librarian, anytime day or night seven days a week, with this online chat service.
The District has been a leader in the library world in using technology to enhance the provision of quality services, to keep pace with the rapid growth it is experiencing, and to continue to keep pace with its evolving role as an information provider in one of the fastest growing counties in the U.S. Technology has enhanced customer service with self-service such as “SmartCard” library cards with a chip imbedded so that customers can reserve computers, pay for printing and save favorite Web sites.
In addition to their branches the Maricopa County Library District also operates a Bookmobile and Books by Mail program.
[edit] History
Maricopa County started a free library system the day after the stock market crash in 1929. The enormous population increases in the 1960s and 1970s led the County Library System to undergo reorganization to meet the demands of the residents. In 1986 the State Legislature passed a bill allowing Arizona counties to establish library districts. In 1987 the County Board of Supervisors voted to form the Maricopa County Library District (separate governmental and tax entities). The County Supervisors serve as the District’s Board of Library Directors.
[edit] Awards and Recognition
The Library District has received national awards for it innovative programs and technology. In 2005 MCLD was awarded the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award for The Mystery Club of Luna Drive, an Original Online Serial Novel. MCLD went on to produce two more online novels for kids which are available online for any library, school, child reader or parent to access and enjoy.
The Library District was awarded the Pioneer Award for Quality by The Arizona Quality Alliance in 2006.
In 2006 the District turned the book Tomás and the Library Lady by Pat Mora into a World Premiere stage play adapted and performed by a professional children’s theater company that toured schools and reached over 70,000 children. First Lady Laura Bush saw the play on invitation from the District. The theater company will tour it nationally in 2007.
Find out more about the Maricopa County Library District call 602.652.3000 or visit the Library’s Web site
