Phoenix Public Library Annual Report
Fiscal Year 2022-23
Phoenix Public Library
Message from Phoenix City Librarian, Phoenix Public Library Advisory Board Chair
On behalf of our team at Phoenix Public Library we want to thank our community for the support and continued use of library services throughout the last several years. We are proud that Phoenix Public Library continues to maintain our vital connection to the community, expand cornerstone services, and focus on being in tune and responsive to the emerging needs of greater Phoenix communities. Our FY 2022-23 Annual Report shines a spotlight on just a sampling of library offerings we are proud to have been able to provide.
From July 2022 through June 2023, Phoenix Public Libraries hosted over two million visits to our 17 libraries where library customers set a good course, stayed connected, took a step towards achieving a dream, and discovered or nurtured a love of reading. Three Phoenix Public Libraries celebrated anniversaries: Desert Sage (25 years), Mesquite (40 years), and Ocotillo (55 years), and we are especially excited that throughout the 2023 calendar year, Phoenix Public Library is celebrating 125 years of serving those calling greater Phoenix home.
For generations, Phoenix Public Library has offered more than a visit to “where the books live;” our communities have counted on unique and meaningful experiences at all 17 of our library locations. In the past 12 months, many of our locations held “Bike Rodeos” for children and families to pick up a free helmet and learn safe cycling tips. Desert Sage Library customers made 1,000 paper cranes for International Peace Day. Burton Barr Central Library’s unique Rare Book Room and Arizona Room tailored their scheduling to allow for programs, appointments, and tours. MACH1, our makerspace at Burton Barr Central Library began holding open lab nights for families to drop in and try something new. Phoenicians of all ages can stop by a Phoenix Public Library location on a Saturday for a hands-on S.T.E.A.M activity or any other time of the week to find a Culture Pass, job and career help, tax assistance with VITA, or learn to knit and quilt at one of our libraries, just to name a few valuable experiences!
Providing families with access to the expertise and a setting to help their children have a bright future is the lifeblood of a public library. Phoenix Public Library Early Literacy cornerstones such as Storywalk®, Summer Reading, Kindergarten Bootcamp, and Amazing Library Card campaign increased their reach, either expanding their offerings or realizing significant increases in participation. Library staff across our system regularly reached out to meet our neighbors where they are by visiting schools, senior centers, community fairs and partner agencies with books, craft projects, Storytime programs and more.
For those looking to the library as a place to make a dream a reality, in the fall of 2022, we relaunched our signature “Business Roadmap” and “Mapa Para Su Negocio” entrepreneurial program. College Depot at Phoenix Public Library established a special collaboration with Phoenix Union High School District providing personalized college access guidance to PUHSD students, held its first Scholarship Expo and was able to hold the first in-person Career Online High School graduation ceremony in three years.
Whether we are a destination for a visit, providing a beloved book to read, offering guidance for pursuing a dream, or tracking down a critical piece of information, we look forward to the opportunities waiting for us and helping our communities stay connected with what they care about.
Rita Hamilton Phoenix City Librarian
Abraham James Library Advisory Board Chair
Setting a Good Course
It’s no secret that one of the most significant needs in our community is school readiness and building early literacy skills. Children that are exposed to words and language and are encouraged to explore a love of reading at the earliest age possible are better prepared for school and life-long achievements. And making these activities enjoyable, rewarding and engaging gives these important lessons staying power, setting a foundation for a successful life journey. Phoenix Public Library is proud to offer opportunities for children to grow, whether it be through a program, resource, expert advice or just the fun adventure that comes with a library visit.
Kindergarten Bootcamp
In December of 2022, Phoenix Public Library’s signature Kindergarten Bootcamp program completed its 400th series! For those little ones about to enter kindergarten, Kindergarten Bootcamp is a 7-week series where parents and children learn together; building a social, academic and classroom skills foundation for school success. Fun tools and resources are part of the package which parents can use in the home to get their kindergartner ready for school.
Storywalk®
Phoenix Public Library’s StoryWalk® installation added a third location. Harmon Park joined Cesar Chavez Park and Edison Park in featuring a children’s book displayed across 18 stations. Destinations on their own, StoryWalks® offer a shared reading experience promoting early literacy, movement and adult-child interaction. Featured books are routinely refreshed and StoryWalks® average hundreds of visitors a day as families enjoy a reading adventure.
July 2022 – June 2023 featured Storywalk® books:
Cesar Chavez Park
7858 S. 35th Ave.
Edison Park
901 N. 19th St.
Harmon Park 1425 S. 5th Ave.
Please Mr Panda by
Steve AntonyJulian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
Dreamers
by Yuyi MoralesWhen We Are Kind
by Monique Gray SmithYoga Bunny
by Brian RussoThe Family Book by Todd
ParrBrave by Stacy
McAnultyYoga Bunny
by Brian Russo
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
Brave by Stacy McAnulty
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
Jayden's Impossible Garden by Melina
MangalFirst Five Years Spaces
Palo Verde Library unveiled an updated and improved First Five Years space in May of 2023 with special thanks to the Phoenix Public Library Foundation, the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact, and the Burgeon Group. Families and little ones visiting Palo Verde Library are able to have fun while developing and sharpening their early literacy skills with two featured interactive pieces, a large play vehicle and a “kiosk” with a variety of pretend play applications such as a puppet theater, post office, café, etc. Palo Verde Library joins Agave, Burton Barr Central, Cholla, Desert Sage, and Mesquite Libraries in offering local Burgeon Group's museum-quality interactive pieces that teach early literacy skills to support little ones' development of a love of reading while also having fun.
Summer Reading: “Oceans of Possibilities”
Research demonstrates that children who read during out-of-school time and summer vacation perform better on reading assessments. Voluntary reading, at least 20 minutes a day during summer vacation, is particularly important to stem or reverse summer learning loss. After two summers of limited Summer Reading activities, our goal in summer 2022 was to rebuild, reconnect and have fun with our customers. 2022’s “Oceans of Possibilities” Summer Reading program came in just shy of pre-COVID summers with Phoenix Public Library helping 20,812 participants (an increase of 77% over the previous summer) log over 15.2 million minutes of reading in June and July. 8,268 participants logged 1,000 minutes or more of reading (an increase of 42% over 2021) with kids (ages 5-11) reading the most with over 6.5 million minutes logged.
Our customers say it best:
During the pandemic we probably stopped by the curbside library 4 times a week. I had just taught my son to read and we loved the grab bags that PPL provided us. He became an avid reader and having surprise stories and DVDs show up in those bags cultivated his love for all sorts of books. Today he’s still reading and we visit PPL at least 1-2x per week. – Melissa
Just wanted to say thank you for Storytime. My children are now 15 and 10, time flies! Storytime at the library when they were babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers was a very special, valuable time and much appreciated that it was free! – anonymous customer
Ask us Anything
When in doubt, ask at the library. Whether we are making personalized reading suggestions, sharing staff picks, assisting with downloading a library resource onto a personal device, helping a family navigate the steps to find funding for and apply for college, giving resume advice, answering a wide array of questions, or connecting library visitors to community resources, our library staff offer a wealth of knowledge every day.
Ask Us & Library Call Center
While the Library's Call Center team has fielded countless requests for materials, details about programs, inquiries into Wi-Fi hotspots, library hours, and more – sometimes we get questions that are a bit less common and often a lot more fascinating! From requests for full recipes, to contacts for local businesses, from folks who do not have internet access, to deep dives into Greek Mythology, questions about Kiss concert details from 1983, to requests about accessing articles in the microform collection... We have even had an offer of a donated grand piano (which we sadly could not accept). We have found that when we invite people to 'Ask Us Anything,' we really do get asked about a bit of everything. And we wouldn't have it any other way.
College Depot – Phoenix Union High School District & GRIT
College Depot, Phoenix Public Library’s free, full-service college access center embarked on an exciting new system-wide collaboration with Phoenix Union High School District (PUHSD) in August of 2022. Four thousand PUHSD seniors were able to attend virtual district-wide sessions and receive individual guidance from College Depot professionals and have participated in tailored in-school events and followup support based on the identified needs from the district. Additionally College Depot’s GRIT (Graduating Ready, Independent, and Tenacious) program provides students with personalized, consistent, and long-term support throughout their senior year to successfully start college after they graduate. Students and advisors develop an individualized plan and meet (virtually or in-person) throughout the school year to ensure students are on track and are ready to begin their college journey.
Our customers say it best:
You all do a fantastic job working at the Phoenix Public Library and helping everyone find what they need! – B.E.
He went above and beyond to assist me. I don’t think he realized how helpful he was and how important it was for me. – Tammy
Homework Help
When help is needed for research, learning needs, or to find information for a homework assignment, both kids and their grownups can look to our library staff, who are on hand to find just the right source. Also, our eResources and eResources for Kids are available 24/7 on our website.
Device Advice
What better way to learn all about how to operate your device than with a hands-on tutorial in downloading and operating all of the apps that come with Phoenix Public Library’s electronic resources? Readily available on phoenixpubliclibrary.org or by checking in with a library staff member as part of a visit, library customers can take Phoenix Public Library with them, listen to music or eAudiobooks in the car, stream a favorite movie or show at home, or easily carry a digital “stack” of books on a flight. Our staff will help you have access to Phoenix Public Library wherever you want to go.
Our customers say it best:
Being able to have an amazing program like GRIT gave me the motivation to find the right university and the motivation from all GRIT advisors is what kept me going. – Jose
I have been a community library user for 35 years, but last year had a moment where I was grateful for the library beyond the books, music, and movies it provided for check out. I had to send a fax to a bank for an account issue! I tried to utilize one I had access to at my work, but it was not sending properly and the bank would not allow me to scan and email the document. Wracking my brain, I thought, “I bet the library has a fax machine I could pay to use” so I went to check it out. Not only did my local branch have a fax machine I could use, but there was no additional fee!! I was so grateful to have a solution to my issue; this, to me, is an incredible example of the myriad of services libraries provide to the community. – Jessica
Making a Dream a Reality
Generations have found possibilities and support for what they want to become through a visit to Phoenix Public Library. Specifically, for those with a dream to land that job, launch or expand their small business, or discover a path to college, in FY 2022-23 Phoenix Public Library provided tangible help to those working on making their dream a reality.
StartUpPHX
In November of 2021, Phoenix Public Library’s entrepreneurial and small/local business owner resource center, hive @ central, re-branded to become StartUpPHX. Located on the 2nd floor of Burton Barr Central Library, StartUpPHX serves those with a dream to launch or grow their own small business with regular in-person and online networking services, an English and Spanish reference collection, special events, and English and Spanish programing such as “Doing Business in Phoenix,” “ABCs of Starting a Business,” “Marketing 101,” and “Nonprofit Navigator Series.” In March of 2023, StartUpPHX held a Small Business Expo with over 25 vendors on hand to talk with well over 200 attendees about resources and opportunities for small business entrepreneurs of all ages.
Relaunch of Business Roadmap and Mapa Para Su Negocio
Business Roadmap and Mapa Para Su Negocio officially relaunched the first part of August 2022, offering entrepreneurs and small business owners an 8-session series of start-up workshops, such as “How to Start a Business in Arizona,” “Legal and Business Structure of Startups,” Access to Capital” and providing connections to library curated resources and networking opportunities. Business Roadmap and Mapa Para Su Negocio are both offered in-person and online.
Our customers say it best:
The Business Roadmap program helped me establish my business by providing me with the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. The knowledge and resources learned in the Business Roadmap Program allowed me to begin my journey into entrepreneurship with confidence.
– A. Margot
College Depot Scholarship Expo
In February of 2023 College Depot hosted its first in-person Scholarship Expo where almost 300 students and their families were able to learn more about scholarships and interact with over 31 providers and guests. High school seniors were also able to complete their Arizona Community Foundation application during the Expo.
Career Online High School Graduation
Back after a three-year hiatus, on Saturday, June 3, 2023, 16 students from Career Online High School celebrated their graduation in the Deborah J. Dillon Auditorium along with their families. Launched in 2015, Phoenix Public Library’s Career Online High School (COHS) pairs each enrolled student with an online academic coach as Phoenix students earn an accredited high school diploma and career certificate online.
PHXWorks Employer Spotlight Series
PHXWorks continued its Employer Spotlight series at Ocotillo and Harmon Libraries. Regularly featuring employers such as the U.S. Postal Service, Sodexo, Cyracom, United States Census Bureau, Allied Universal and more, those visiting an Employer Spotlight are able to meet with a featured employer, learn about the organization, current job openings, and what a career with them might look like.
Our customers say it best:
As a high school student, I’m glad to have found College Depot and allow them to guide me whether it’s helping me apply for scholarships or providing me with a laptop. I am thankful everyday that they are in my life. – Alexa
Thanks for the support, kind words, compassion and dedication provided during my search for employment. P.S. I got the job!! – Cherre
®
Staying Connected With What You Care About
Staying connected can have a wide range of meanings. From providing critical resources that bridge the digital divide, to an exploration of our past. From holding a uniquely Phoenix experience to offering more light-hearted life enrichment programs for making social connections, creating a fond memory, or discovering a new hobby, Phoenix Public Library is a place where our visitors can find a way to stay connected with what they care about.
Access to the Internet
Personal access to the Internet and a computer means not being left behind. Having connectivity matters and in many cases, access impacts quality-of-life factors. Phoenix Public Library regularly hosts thousands of visitors using public computers throughout all 17 locations and by connecting them to free Wi-Fi within our buildings and throughout the expanse of all parking lots (8 a.m.–9 p.m. seven days a week). For those library customers that need access to wi-fi outside of a library, Phoenix Public Library makes Wi-Fi hotspots available for check out.
Arizona Room & Rare Book Room
Exploring our roots helps us better understand where we fit in the world and a visit to the Arizona Room or Rare Book Room at Burton Barr Central Library is a unique and special encounter with our past. In fall of 2022, as Phoenix Public Library continued to restore access to library spaces post the Covid-19 pandemic, the Arizona Room and Rare Book Room’s availability to the public was modified to incorporate more guided tours, scheduled appointments, and unique programs showcasing these two special collections. Visitors to either of these two one-of-a-kind destinations were able to participate in “Haunted Route 66,” “Gregorian Chant: Myths and Music,” “The Arizona Room Presents: James McClintock,” and more.
Merry Mail
In 2021, Juniper Library started “Merry Mail,” a holiday card making station for Juniper Library visitors to create a decorated card with messages for the winter holidays. Created cards were then delivered by library staff to local senior care facilities. In the fall of 2022, Merry Mail continued at Juniper Library and expanded to Cholla and Palo Verde Libraries.
Our customers say it best:
I was the kid who would race to be at the front of the line on library days in school. I loved when my aunt would take me to our library...The programs and events are some of the happiest memories of my childhood. Now, as an adult things haven’t changed much. The library is still my happy place. – Nikki
Our customers say it best:
I am so thankful that you started the hotspot lending program...you don’t know what a difference that it has made in my life. – anonymous customer
Accidental Crafter, Crafternoon, Make and Take Kits, Laveen Knit-Wits
Either connecting with others at a weekly “Crafternoon” or “Accidental Crafter,” taking a “Make and Take” kit and crafting in their own time and place, or stitching away stress at Cesar Chavez Library with the Laveen Knit-Wits knitting and crochet program, seasoned and would-be knitters and crafters of all ages found a creative outlet with Phoenix Public Library.
Voices
Communities are comprised of a diversity of experiences and perspectives and the voices that emerge from them. We believe these voices make for a richer, more meaningful experience for all. Celebrations of the myriad of voices that reflect and represent individuals as well as our collective communities can be both expressed and heard year-round with Phoenix Public Library. In addition to the multitude of voices found throughout Phoenix Public Library’s collection, greater Phoenix individuals and families could find themselves reflected by visiting a unique exhibit such as “Through Each Other’s Eyes: Arizona & Guatemala Exchange Exhibit,” submitting art and altars for the “Dia de los Muertos” displays, exploring works from Arizona Authors through the “Just Read Local Author Collection,” discovering kids’ inspiration through the “Voices: Black Voices Virtual Art Exhibit,” or attending an Arizona Humanities “AZ Speaks Program” and more.
Burton Barr Central Library Summer Solstice
June 21, 2023 marked both Phoenix Public Library’s official 125th anniversary (Phoenix Public Library was established on June 21, 1898) and the return to holding the annual Summer Solstice event in person after a three-year pause due to the pandemic. The Summer Solstice event welcomed over 1,000 more visitors than usual at Burton Barr Central Library to celebrate the library and witness the special light effect as it occurred on the 5th floor. The light effect was narrated by both Will Bruder and Wendell Burnette. We also enjoyed remarks from Mayor Gallego as she delivered an official Mayor Phoenix Public Library 125th Anniversary Celebration Proclamation for June 21, 2023.
For the Love of Reading
Now more than ever, we see almost immediate benefits of regular reading. For all ages, daily reading provides mental stimulation, improves memory, strengthens an ability to learn and is oftentimes just plain fun. Phoenix Public Library offers a vast array of reading options for the bibliophile in all of us.
When You Just Need a Good Book
Read with us! Phoenix Public Library has always offered several versions of book clubs both in-person and through our come-as-you-are, read-what-you-like online book club “Just Read.” Acacia Library’s “Front Porch Book Club,” South Mountain Community Library’s “Literary Circle Book Club,” and Desert Broom Library’s “Novel Ideas Book Club” are just a few library book clubs that did a lot of reading together!
Con-Fusion
Five Libraries. Five Saturdays. Five Genres. Across April and May of 2023, Phoenix Public Library celebrated favorite literary genres: Adventure and Fantasy, Mystery and Horror, Science Fiction and Space, Romance and Poetry, and Westerns and Steampunk. The events highlighted local authors, artists, performers and family friendly activities.
Long-Lost Return
We are always excited to welcome back a long-lost item from our collection, no matter how long it takes, and we were thrilled when Franz Kafka’s The Trial made its way to Juniper Library almost 54 years past its due date. We no longer have the records telling us which Phoenix Public Library location Franz Kafka’s The Trial was checked out from or who checked it out. We don’t know who found it and got it back to the library, but we know that this copy was in our collection for at least several years and the last person to check it out from Phoenix Public Library was to have returned it or renewed it by August 7, 1969. The Trial has most likely sat on a shelf or in a box for decades, but this book finding its way back to Phoenix Public Library after almost 54 years speaks to the value our community places on the library.
Our customers say it best:
I got my first library card the first year I was eligible, age nine in 1964. For years after I patronized the library regularly, especially the Arizona Room with its priceless historical collection. Now I’m the author of 15 books, mysteries and one history of Phoenix. I’m thrilled they’re in the stacks at Phoenix Public Library. – Jon
I am extremely grateful for the Phoenix Public Library’s digital collection. I have been able to download so many wonderful titles and save so much money. I’ve been able to participate in multiple book clubs without worrying about how much I am spending. I so appreciate how the library makes reading accessible to everyone. Thank you, Phoenix Public Library! – Jessica
What Phoenicians Checked Out
Phoenicians can always count on Phoenix Public Library as a place to find their next “great read.” Here is what our customers were checking out July 2022 through June 2023:
Adult Fiction
1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
2. The Last Thing He Told Me: A Novel by Laura Dave
3. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
4. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
5. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Children’s Fiction
1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (multiple titles) by Jeff Kinney
2. The Pigeon HAS to Go to School by Mo Willems
3. Pete the Cat’s Groovy Imagination by Eric Litwin, James Dean, and Kimberly Dean
4. Dog Man: Mothering Heights by Dav Pilkey
5. Captain Underpants and the Tyrannical Retaliation of the Turbo Toilet 2000 by Dav Pilkey
Teen Fiction
1. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
2. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
4. As Good As Dead: The Finale to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
5. Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
eBooks on Overdrive
1. 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna Wiest
2. Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come: One Introvert’s Year of Saying Yes by Jessica Pan
3. Girl, Forgotten (unabridged) by Karin Slaughter
4. The Last Thing He Told Me: A Novel by Laura Dave
5. A Court of Thorns and Roses (unabridged) by Sarah J. Maas
Magazines
1. People
2. Us Weekly
3. Vogue
4. Phoenix Home & Garden
5. Rider
Music
1. Lover by Taylor Swift
2. 30 by Adele
3. good kid, m.A.A.d. city by Kendrick Lamar
4. Evermore by Taylor Swift
5. Disintegration by The Cure
Movies
1. Spider-Man: No Way Home
2. Dune
3. Top Gun: Maverick
4. Encanto
5. Everything Everywhere All at Once
By the Numbers
(July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023)
• Number of new library cards created: 58,220
• Total number of Library visits: 2,014,015
• Circulation (physical and digital): 9,364,763
• Total number of website visits: 16,418,349
• Total number of Greater Phoenix Digital Library checkouts: 3,646,916
• Phoenix Public Library customers saved an estimated $103.6 million by checking out materials with Phoenix Public Library
• Total number of programs: 7,474
• Total number of program attendance: 179,570
• 20,944 questions answered through Ask Us
• 45,003 Call Center calls answered in the Call Center
• Total number of Wifi hotspot checkouts: 2,476
• Total number of library external/internal Wifi sessions: 4,341,882
• Total number of public access computer sessions: 255,823
• Total number of Kindergarten Bootcamps:
441 attendees attended 41 Kindergarten Bootcamp series.
• Total number of Kids’ Café & meal packs: 8,831
• College Depot:
30,108 College Depot visits (in-person & virtual)
2,918 one-on-one education planning appointments (college planning, ReEngage Phoenix & Craft A Profession)
172 events, workshops (FAFSA, Open Labs, Outreach events)
• 873 attended Business Roadmap with StartUpPHX
• 368 attended Mapa Para Su Negocio with StartUpPHX
• 1,661 attended PHXWorks programs
125 Years of Service
Throughout 2023, Phoenix Public Library is celebrating serving the residents of greater Phoenix for 125 years. Originally inspired to study history, Phoenix’s “Friday Club,” a group of fourteen women, expanded their efforts from one of study to creating a public library. On June 21, 1898, Phoenix Public Library was officially made available to the public in two rooms on the second floor of the Fleming Building located at Washington Street and First Avenue. Within a few years, the “Friday Club” would turn Phoenix Public Library over to the newly-incorporated City of Phoenix moving the Phoenix Public Library location to “upstairs of City Hall.” In the 125 years since, as Phoenix has expanded and community needs have shifted and changed, Phoenix Public Library has grown from those first two rooms to now be a system of 17 library locations. One constant throughout our past and planned future is the continued high regard and focus we maintain for providing an essential support and empowerment system with free access to trustworthy information that is reflective of and responsive to the individuals and families that call greater Phoenix home.
Library Advisory Board
Abraham James, Chair
Brenda Thomson, Vice Chair
Kathleen Ingley
Adam McAnally
Dominique Medina
Dianne Post
*Appointed July 3, 2023
Anne Thorne
Supporting Phoenix Public Library
Our thanks to Phoenix Public Library Foundation and Friends of the Phoenix Public Library for their support in expanding Phoenix Public Library’s reach through community advocacy, providing supplemental financial support and connection to critical community and education partners.
