“State of the Library” indicates additions for the current site and a new $15-20 million library on the drawing board

New residents, new businesses and new schools have all come to Maricopa. Another new addition, a new city library, is scheduled to be built in approximately three years according to Parks, Recreation and Libraries (PRL) Director Marty McDonald, who presented his “State of the Library” update to the Friends of the Maricopa Library at their monthly meeting.

Mary Lou Smith takes notes as Gloria Barrientos listens to PRL Director Marty McDonald’s “state of the library” update.

“When the City incorporated in 2003, the library was already there, and it had its own following,” noted McDonald. In fact, the Maricopa Community Library began in 1958 due to the efforts of Naoma Cole and Jean Anderson. When the Pinal County Library District was formed, the twosome learned that books were available to Maricopa residents.

No structure was available to house library books, so the Maricopa Community Library began on the shelf of the post office. In the 1960s and 1970s books were kept at Maricopa Elementary School, then at the Grower’s Insurance Office, until, finally, the library’s collection was homeless.

“A large community group formed at that time,” explained Mary Lou Smith. “It was a very big group for the size of the community, about 25 people. Someone donated a barn, but residents wisely said the renovations needed were too extensive. To make a long story short, this group raised about $30,000 to purchase a barracks building from Williams Air Force Base in 1988. Some of the money went to pay for the building and the rest, some of it in-kind donations, went to renovations like extra supports under the building and widening the doors.”

Smith added that the high school FFA group and advisor Bart Romero volunteered to put in the sidewalk and, later, to build the porch across the front of the building. Smith and her husband John donated the land for the library as well as for Rotary pool and the adjacent park area. In September 2004, the Maricopa Cultural and Activity Center, Inc. donated the library site, the building and its contents to the City of Maricopa.

Presently the Maricopa Library provides books, paperbacks, books on both tape and CDs, videos, music CDs, DVDs, an Arizona collection, interlibrary loans and Internet access to from 120-170 patrons each month. Circulation for last month (June) was a bit less than 3,000 items.

According to McDonald, “It’s time to start bringing some more attention to the library.” In order to do that, an advertising budget of $2,100 has been set aside to create library brochures, to be proactive and “to create more community awareness.” McDonald indicated that city staffers would also receive additional library training.

Improvements will also be made, including the addition of a one-sided security system and some new office furniture. The PRL Department will be increasing custodial and landscaping care and maintenance. “We need to look at ways to build collections,” added McDonald. Kevin Drinka, who has previous experience in collections, will become a full-time member of the library’s staff, in addition to Librarian Linda Wilmeth and assistant Kecia Pike. This year’s book budget will be $20,000; another $8,000-$10,000 should come from Pinal County grant funds.

A new, $15-20 million library is on the drawing board for approximately 2009. The 60,000 square foot facility will replace the 1,700 square feet of library space currently in use. A Library Town Hall was held in mid-June (see related story) to solicit citizen input on the new library’s design, programs and collections. Additional community meetings will be held in the fall. “We need a solid plan,” noted McDonald.