Libraries in the news

Some new libraries being built and planned, always good to see. Here are some from Arizona:

New library moves ahead: Town (Queen Creek, Arizona) to present plans at open house
By Angela De Welles, Independent Newspapers
Published: May 07, 2007 - 11:35:41 pm EDT
http://www.newszap.com/articles/2007/05/08/az/east_valley/qc05.txt

"By this time next year, a new library in the town’s center could be ready for Queen Creek locals to check out.

Town officials and representatives from the Maricopa County Library District will kick off the start of the 47,000-square-foot project with an open house 4-7 p.m. Monday, May 14 in the courtyard of the existing library, 22407 S. Ellsworth Road."

END SNIP

May 8, 2007
San Tan library to be built around team effort
Sarah J. Boggan, Tribune
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/89248

A collective of Pinal County officials, developers and residents are bringing a library to the San Tan area — something all parties say is desperately needed.

....
With the closest Pinal County libraries in Apache Junction, Florence and Coolidge, and the Maricopa County Library District charging Pinal County residents $40 a year to use the Queen Creek Library, area residents say the new library would be welcome.

Pinal County librarian Denise Keller said the library and senior center are “a starting point” for the San Tan community.

The San Tan area library would start on a volunteer basis and would be a resource for the community, providing books, computer use and Internet access as well as an informal meeting place, said Keller, who has already started collecting items for the library.
END SNIP

New library for District 6?
By Vanessa White, Independent Newspapers
Published: May 07, 2007 - 11:35:30 pm EDT
http://www.newszap.com/articles/2007/05/08/az/east_valley/em02.txt
In the future, Southeast Mesa residents might not have to travel to Power and Adobe roads to go to a city library.

The city recognizes East Mesa Districts 5 and 6 as underserved by Mesa libraries.

Deputy City Manager Jack Friedline said Signal Butte and Elliot roads might be the future site of another branch.

"We were trying to put some kind of administrative building there. It's possible depending on how small the branch can be," Mr. Friedline said.

District 5 Councilman Rex Griswold also recommends a possible partnership with one of the college libraries in the Williams Gateway area. Arizona State University's Polytechnic campus and Chandler-Gilbert Community College are both located across from Williams Gateway Airport, 5835 S. Sossaman Road.
END SNIP


City to restore cut services: Public safety tops budget
By Joey Airdo and Dave Casadei, Independent Newspapers
http://www.newszap.com/articles/2007/05/07/az/north_valley/adv01.txt

North Phoenix residents' wishes will be well represented if the city's final 2007-08 budget resembles anything similar to its trial budget.

Residents learned late April of the city's 2007-08 budget goal to improve community services and restore those eliminated during past budget cuts after a trial budget showcasing the city's fiscal intentions circulated looking to generate community feedback.

....

The city wants to restore library services by opening libraries, including Juniper Library, 1825 W. Union Hills Drive, one hour earlier Monday-Saturday. The $425,000 expense would see the facilities opening at 9 a.m. instead of 10 a.m.

Phoenix officials also want to spend $261,000 to add staff and materials to open Agave Library, 23550 N. 36th Ave.

The city broke ground April 12 on the new 25,000-square-foot library slated to open July 2008. The facility will feature a children's pavilion, group study rooms, a computer training lab, teen space, a community meeting room, reading garden, Internet access and about 150 parking spaces.

END SNIP

Chandler seeks OK on $451M in bonds
Chris Markham, Tribune
May 6, 2007
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/89131
Chandler’s asking its residents for permission to spend nearly $451 million on a long list of projects over the next three to four years.

The May 15 election will pose 10 bond issue proposals, including a longer runway at the airport, more city parks and even a local history museum. It’s the most expensive list of bond proposals ever pitched to Chandler residents.
....
Library: City officials want to spend $11.3 million on Chandler’s Sunset Library branch. Currently, the city leases the facility. If approved by voters, the city would spend up to $9.5 million to buy the library branch and about $1.3 million renovating the facility. “Right now there are 1,000 visitors who go in that Sunset Library each day,” Jackson said.
END SNIP

Supervisors to choose designs for new main library
BY JEFFREY GAUTREAUX, SUN STAFF WRITER
May 5, 2007 - 11:28PM
http://www.yumasun.com/news/library_33840___article.html/county_main.html
The Yuma County Board of Supervisors is expected to choose an initial concept design Monday for a new $28 million Yuma County Main Library.

VCBO Architecture of Salt Lake City has prepared two conceptual designs - one square and one rectangular - that the supervisors will choose from at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the Board of Supervisors Auditorium, 198 S. Main St. The board's regular meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the same location.
...
The new main library is one of a handful of library projects being paid for by more than $50 million in bonds passed by county voters. Many of the smaller projects are already further along, but Evans said the expected completion date for the facility is spring of 2009.
END SNIP