Phoenix Public Library

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The Phoenix Public Library is a municipal library system serving Phoenix, Arizona, and owned and operated by the City of Phoenix. There are 15 branches currently in operation citywide, anchored by the flagship Burton Barr Central Library on the northern edge of downtown Phoenix. This, the Cholla branch location at Metrocenter Mall and the Mesquite branch at Paradise Valley Mall were designed by prominent area architect Will Bruder.

The library traces its origins to 1897 when a group of citizens decided to raise funds for a library. In 1904, industrialist Andrew Carnegie donated money for a library building on Washington Street near the state capital; this building is still in operation as a museum, archives and research center operated by the State of Arizona. ^[1]

With the explosive growth of Phoenix after World War II, new branches were added citywide. A Central Library was opened in 1953 (replacing the Carnegie Library as Phoenix's main library location), but replaced by the aforementioned Burton Barr Central Library in 1995 (its building is now part of the Phoenix Art Museum).

In 2004, the library launched the Greater Phoenix Digital Library, which currently features an extensive collection of downloadable audiobooks, eBooks, music and video titles.