Back then: city acquires Maricopa Community Library in 2004

Maricopa Public Library set records in June for both the number of patron visits and the number of items checked out.

According to Library Manager Joe Gunter, 23,306 items were circulated and 12,092 patrons used the library—the highest numbers for one month in the library’s history.

But, back then, in 2004, director Linda Wilmeth reported the Maricopa Community Library was seeing 3-5 new patrons every day.

On Aug. 24, 2004, the library was signed over to the city under the management of the Parks, Recreation and Libraries Department. The official papers completing the donation of the library and its assets were signed by then city manager Rick Buss, Mayor Kelly Anderson and Garry Wilmeth, president of the library’s board of directors.

Anderson said the timing of the acquisition was impeccable and is “good for everyone in the city.”

Buss termed the acquisition of the library “a good investment for the city.” He added,  “The library is very important for raising the quality of life and attracting economic activity.”

With the acquisition and the city managing the library, which was then located in the current Veterans’ Center building next to Rotary pool, two paid, part-time employees were scheduled to be hired. Today the library has a staff of seven; two individuals are part-time.

Although the new Maricopa Public Library was only a year old in June, Maricopans have actually had a library for 23 years. The original library’s first day in Maricopa was in June 1987. The structure, originally a barracks, was moved from Williams Air Force to Maricopa on a flatbed trailer.

Often running the operation with just $300 in the bank, Wilmeth recalled, “There were times we did not know if we were going to be able to pay the electric bill.” 

Longtime volunteer and library board member Mary Lou Smith added that the Maricopa Cultural Activities Center and Library “always had a home, if meager at times… we were in the jail at one time.”

Today the Maricopa Public Library continues to grow with the community, with plans underway to continue improving and providing its services.

Although patronage and circulation have increased dramatically since ‘back then,’ the vision for Maricopa’s library is onging and has not changed in 23 years.

File photos