For more than 100 years, Pima County Public Library has been here for people just like you.
Today, at 27 libraries, online, or out in the community, our dedicated staff and volunteers are here to help you find what you're looking for. Every day we're making our mission a reality by educating, connecting, and inspiring people.
Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, the Library provides services across 9,200 square miles, including Tucson and the surrounding communities of Arivaca, Green Valley, Sahuarita, South Tucson, Ajo, Marana, Oro Valley, and Catalina.
The Library provides a wide range of free services that contribute to the economic development of the community.
Services
At the Library, people come first. We’re here for everyone in our community, offering services that support your creativity, individuality, and freedom of choice. Providing access to computers, learning tools, digital and print resources, entertainment, and a supportive, friendly staff are just some of the ways the Library powers possibilities and makes a difference in peoples' lives.
We help create a strong community by teaching reading skills, providing books, and sharing stories. With reading as the foundation of all education, we help prepare young children to start school. For older children and adults, we offer services to become better readers. Reading is a building block in every success, including home life, health, education, and employment, and we take our role in building a community of readers very seriously.
Anything is possible at the Library. Look to your Library as a place to explore, discover and learn new things. Students rely on us for quality information resources, homework help, or guidance pursuing higher education. Self-directed learners can take classes taught by qualified instructors or use online tools. Researchers can get assistance from knowledgeable librarians. Entrepreneurs embarking on new paths can get answers to business questions, while job seekers can boost their confidence and strengthen their resumes. At the Library, everyone—regardless of age, background, or means—has the opportunity to keep learning and dream BIG.
Want to learn more? Visit our About Us page. Better yet, check out our calendar of events and join us in person!
History
Tucson’s first public library, originally called the Carnegie Free Library, was founded in 1883. The first library building was partially funded by Andrew Carnegie’s campaign to build public libraries in the late 19th century. Carnegie committed to paying up to $25,000 to build a new library on the condition that the City of Tucson supplied a building site and provided $2,000 per year to maintain the library. The Tucson Common Council made good on this deal by passing Resolution Number 20. This resolution earmarked $2,000 per year for library maintenance, and designated a site for the library. The site used constituted a portion of Military Plaza.
Architect Henry Charles Trost was hired to build the new library, which was completed in June of 1901. The Carnegie Free Library, administered by the city of Tucson, was located at 200 South 6th Avenue (current home of the Tucson's Children Museum). Initially, the library did not include a children’s room. This area was added after funds were raised in 1924. The library began with 2,000 volumes in 1891, but had grown to over 60,000 in 1942. A new 90,000 square foot facility opened downtown in May 1990. Today, this building is the Joel D. Valdez Main Library.
On January 7, 1957 the name of the Carnegie Free Library was changed to Tucson Public Library by the Tucson City Council. This name was changed to the Tucson-Pima Public Library in 1990 when Pima County became more involved in the library’s operations. When Pima County took administrative control of the library system in 2006, we became Pima County Public Library.
In addition to our Main and neighborhood branches, we offer a Bookmobile, Books-By-Mail, deposit collections, and an ever-growing variety of services online.
Timeline
Year
Event
1883
Main Library established, opening in Tucson City Hall
1900
Andrew Carnegie pledges $25,000 to City of Tucson to build library
1938
New Main Library dedicated at 200 South Sixth Avenue
1941
Fire destroys dome over central portion of Main Library
1945
Contract with Pima County for provision of county library services established
1946
Ajo Branch Library opens in Ajo, Arizona
1954
Bookmobile service begins in April
1961
Major additions added to Main Library
Himmel Park Branch Library opens
1963
Bookmobile service discontinued; two new book trailers placed in service (one remains by 1977)
1965
Wilmot Branch Library opens
1966
Bookmobile services resume in November
1968
Friends of the Tucson Public Library organize
Woods Branch Library opens
1969
Valencia Branch Library opens
1972
El Rio Branch Library opens
Homebound service established
1973
Library Administration
Technical Services move from Main Library to City Hall Annex
1974
Library begins operation of Green Valley Library
Books by Mail service established
1975
Governmental Reference Library opens in City Hall
Valencia Branch Library expanded
El Pueblo Library opens
Tel-a-Tale telephone Storytime service established
1976
Green Valley Library moves to County Government Center
Friends of the Pima-Green Valley Library established
1977
South Tucson book trailer established in permanent location
Marana Library opens
Columbus Branch Library opens—TPL's first library using new CLSI circulation / inventory control system
1978
Mission Branch Library opens
1979
Nanini Branch Library opens
County Jail Library established
1980
Main Library Annex opened in Scottish Rite Temple
Infoline Service established
1982
Himmel Library expansion
Wilmot Branch Library expansion
1984
City of Tucson passes $15 million dollar bond election for new Main Library
1986
Permanent Sam Lena-South Tucson Library opens
1989
Green Valley Library expanded, renamed Joyner-Green Valley Library
Nanini Branch Library expands
Dewhirst-Catalina Branch Library opens
1990
New Main Library on N. Stone opens, consolidating Library Administration, Technical Services, Periodicals, and Government Reference
Permanent location of temporary Arivaca Library in mobile unit
1991
Himmel Library major refurbishing through L.C. Powell campaign
Sam Lena-South Tucson Library expansion
Kirk-Bear Canyon Library opens
Dusenberry-River Center Library opens
1994
City Bond Election includes $5.5 million for: renovations at Woods and Valencia, and a new Miller-Golf Links Library
County Jail Library expands
Dewhirst-Catalina Library relocates
Arson fire at Sam Lena-South Tucson Library
1995
Tucson Public Library officially renamed Tucson-Pima Public Library
Marana Library expands
CLSI/Geac system discontinued. Begin operations on Innovative Interfaces, Inc.
1996
Ajo Library relocates across town plaza
Caviglia-Arivaca Branch Library opens in permanent facility
Valencia Library relocates to begin major renovation
1997
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Services Committee established to better serve southern Arizona's LGBT library users. Less than two months after it was created, the Committee's proposal in favor of Domestic Partner Benefits was passed 6-0 by the Tucson City Council.
Woods Library relocates to begin major renovation
Ajo Branch Library renamed Salazar-Ajo Branch Library
Friends of the Arivaca Library established
Pima County Bond Election includes $5,250,000 for Amphitheater School District/ Library joint-use school-public library (later used for the Oro Valley Library—an affiliate), a mid-town Tucson library, library facilities at the Kino Community Center, and expansion and improvements at South Tucson and Marana.
El Rio Library relocated in slightly larger quarters in Neighborhood Center renovation.
Groundbreaking for Miller-Golf Links Library
1998
Friends of the Kirk-Bear Canyon Library established
Tucson-Pima Library Foundation established
Valencia and Woods leave temporary quarters, returning to newly renovated facilities
1999
Miller-Golf Links Branch Library opens.
Salazar-Ajo Branch Library expands into adjacent storefront location
Complications with Amphi School site leads Pima County Board of Supervisors to relocate the planned northwest library to the Town Oro Valley municipal center site
2000
City Bond election approved and includes $5.5 million for library projects: expansion of Miller-Golf Links to 15,000 SF; 10,000 SF full service library at Quincie Douglas Center; 7,000 SF library and learning center at midtown location.
Groundbreaking for Santa Rosa Learning Center Library
2001
Town of Oro Valley groundbreaking for an affiliate Library
South Tucson Library expansion
Joyner-Green Valley Library expansion
Juvenile Detention Center Library opens
2002
Nanini Library refurbished
Santa Rosa Learning Center Library opens
Southwest Library opens
Oro Valley Library opens as TPPL affiliate
El Pueblo Library relocates in center to larger facility
Teen Resource Center opens at Main
2003
Self-check system installed at Main, Woods Nanini and Green Valley
Main Library renamed for Joel D. Valdez
Main Library plaza redesigned; Jacome Plaza dedication
2004
Tucson-Pima Public Library reading programs named Best Educational Boost Disguised as Fun in the Tucson Weekly's "Best of Tucson 2004"
Miller-Golf Links Library expansion completed
City approved renaming Midtown to the Martha Cooper Branch Library and Learning Center
Self-check system installed at Columbus, Golf Links, River, Valencia, and Bear Canyon branches. Installed computer self-management software, pay printing software and filter choice software for public access
Quincie Douglas Library groundbreaking
Bear Canyon Library expansion groundbreaking
2005
Martha Cooper Library groundbreaking
Bear Canyon Library expansion completed, 11,000—15,000 sq. ft.
Quincie Douglas Library opened, 10,000 sq. ft.
Abbett-Marana Library planning
Flowing Wells Library planning
Virtual Library established
On-line Homework Help initiated
2006
IGA signed for City/County transition
Wilmot Branch 40th Anniversary celebration along with the renaming to the Lewis C. Murphy Memorial Wilmot Branch
Tucson-Pima Public Library kids' website earnes Best Local Website for Kids in the Tucson Weekly's "Best of Tucson 2006"
Soft opening of Martha Cooper Library
2007
Renaming of Eckstrom-Columbus Library in honor of Dan Eckstrom
Wheeler Taft Abbett, Sr. Library groundbreaking in Marana
Flowing Wells Library groundbreaking
2008
Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr. Branch Library opened, 20,000 sq. ft.
Opening of Flowing Wells Library, 5,000 sq. ft.
2009
Sahuarita Express Branch Library opened, 2,000 sq. ft.
2011
Murphy-Wilmot Library re-opens, renovated and expanded to 20,000 sq. ft.
2012
Grand opening of the Seed Library
Library gets its first Bookbike, housed at Joel D. Valdez Main Library
Oro Valley Library joins PCPL as a branch
Implementation of award-winning Library Nurse Program
2013
Eckstrom-Columbus Branch Library re-opens, renovated and expanded to 15,000 sq. ft.
Library Nurse Program nationally recognized as a 2013 Top Innovator by the Urban Libraries Council
2014
Pima County Public Library named National Medal for Museum and Library Service Finalist
Opening of Idea+Space at Joel D. Valdez Main Library which offers workshops for small businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs
Shelving improvements at Woods Memorial Library
Library Nurse Program receives the 2014 American Public Health Association's Lillian Wald Service Award.
2015
New Library website launched
Refresh of Mission Library, including expansion of the computer lab and addition of two study rooms
Seed Library hosts first International Seed Library Forum
Culture Pass, a partnership between the Library and the nonprofit organization Act One, debuts at eight libraries, making meaningful arts experiences accessible to all.
Two additional Bookbikes begin serving the communities surrounding Eckstrom-Columbus Library and Santa Rosa Library
5th Annual MegaMania!! event is held at Pima Community College Downtown Campus. Free and open to the public, this family-friendly celebration of all things comics, anime, cosplay, and art has has gained popularity since the inaugural event in 2011.
2016
Opening of 101Space at Joel D. Valdez Main Library, a dedicated environment for teens based on the principles of Connected Learning
Janni Lee Simner and Adrienne Celt serve as Library's first Writers-in-Residence, a program sponsored by the Arizona State Library, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Refresh of Miller-Golf Links Library, including new carpet, a new service desk, new upholstery, and an expansion of public computers
Refresh of Martha Cooper Library, including a new service desk and book drop
Arizona Daily Star readers choose the Library as Best Adult Education Enrichment Classes (Favorite) and Best Arts/Cultural Education Programs (Winner) in the annual Readers' Choice Awards.
Library Directors
Year
Director
1887-1896
Nellie Pomeroy, Librarian
1896-1918
Jennie H. Batte, Librarian
1918-1946
Mary D. Breathitt, Librarian
1946-1962
Gertrude E. Burt, Head Librarian
1962-1968
John F. Anderson, Library Director
1968-1972
Frank Van Zanten, Library Director
1973
Elizabeth Ohm, Acting Director
1973-1982
John F. Anderson, Library Director
1982-1991
Marcia King, Library Director
1991-1996
Liz R. Miller, Library Director
1997-2003
Agnes M. Griffen, Library Director
2003-2005
Betsy Stunz-Hall, Interim Director
2005-2012
Nancy Ledeboer, Library Director
2012-2016
Melinda Cervantes, Library Director
2016-
Amber Mathewson, Interim Library Director
Sources
Library staff files and documents.
"Chronology of Library". Pima County Public Library Administration, 2008.
"City library director plans to resign, cites burnout." Arizona Daily Star. June 19, 1991
"Councilmen rechristen the library." Arizona Daily Star. January 8, 1957. Page B1 and Staff notes.
"County settle two lawsuits, buys flood-damaged home." Arizona Daily Star. November 15, 2006.