Happy New Year from the City Librarian - Phoenix Public Library

January 2023 eNewsletter | Volume 10, Issue 1

Happy New Year from the City Librarian
                                    I hope you and yours have had a
                                    joyous holiday season! Phoenix
                                    Public Library is grateful to hold a
                                    place in your life. We know with busy
                                    schedules, full days, and so much
                                    choice to hold your attention, the
                                    support you give your local library is
                                    made that much more valuable.
                                    Phoenix Public Library is looking
                                    forward to another full year and our
big news is 2023 marks our system’s 125th anniversary of serving our
community!
                                             On June 21, 1898, the “Friday
                                             Club” opened our first Phoenix
                                             Public Library location in two
                                            upstairs rooms of the Fleming
Building at                                Washington and First Avenue.
This was the result of fourteen women recognizing the need for Phoenix,
incorporated as a city in 1881, to have a free library. In 1901, the Arizona
Legislature passed a bill allowing a tax to support free libraries, qualifying
Phoenix to have a donated library building from Mr. Andrew Carnegie. The
Carnegie Free Library at 11th Avenue and Washington was opened in
February of 1908 and served as our primary location until 1952. It was
replaced by the original central library constructed on property donated by
the Heard family at Central and McDowell.
In 1995, our current flagship, Burton Barr Central Library was opened, and
the original central library became what is now the Phoenix Art Museum.
Recognizing how critical library services are to a growing city, community

leaders have consistently supported Phoenix Public Library expansion and
through the decades, we have grown to be a system of 17 locations.
For 125 years, generations of Phoenicians have come to the library to
discover a love of reading…help their children be ready for school…learn
new skills for a job…enjoy a great family program…use the latest
technology… discover they have what it takes to go to college…find a
welcoming place…and of course, we have always helped fellow book
lovers find their next great read!
We would love to hear from you! Please share your special library story
with us by e-mailing: socialmedialibrary@phoenix.gov.
We hope you make Phoenix Public Library part of your plans for 2023, visit
125th Anniversary of Phoenix Public Library to join in our celebrations
throughout the year!

Want to Read More in 2023?
         “Books may well be the only true magic” – Alice Hoffman
We do, we do! It’s no secret we have a
great love of reading and books, and if
you’re looking for inspiration to read more
in 2023, Phoenix Public Library has you
covered! Check out all the inspiration and
options you have for doing more reading
in 2023.
   • Take the 125th Anniversary
     Reading Challenge! Visit the
     website to view or print the reading
     challenge for a year’s worth of reading prompts. Start any time and
     go at your own pace... for the love of reading!
   • Just Read is a come-as-you-are, read-what-you-like online book club
     and so much more! This monthly online book club is genre or theme
     based. Each month, a new genre or theme will be announced and
     your participation will be on your own and through social media. This
     month’s theme is Wellness. Check each month for a new theme.

• Phoenix Public Library recently shared the best books they read in
    2022. Check out the Best Books of 2022 list for a wide variety of
    recommendations – there's something for every reader!
  • Wondering what Phoenicians were reading in 2022? Here are the
    Top 10 Circulating Books at Phoenix Public Library in 2022.
        1. Dream Town by David Baldacci
        2. City of the Dead by Jonathan Kellerman
        3. The Match by Harlan Coben
        4. Steal by James Patterson
        5. Shadows Reel by C.J. Box
        6. Death of the Black Widow by James Patterson
        7. One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner
        8. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
        9. Cupcake Surprise! by Lynn Maslen Kertell
        10. Abandoned in Death by J.D. Robb

Calling Young Artists!
Deadline is January 20
Students in Kindergarten through 12th
grade are invited to submit drawing of a
significant person or event to celebrate the
African American experience for the
Celebrate Black Voices - Virtual Art
Exhibition. Entries will be accepted through January 20, 2023 and will be
exhibited in an online gallery on the Phoenix Public Library website and
featured on the library’s social media. Learn more and print out a
submission from on the library website.

2023 Outstanding Phoenix Youth Leader
of the Year Applications Open

The City of Phoenix Youth and
                                           Education Office is now accepting
                                           applications for the 2023
                                           Outstanding Phoenix Youth
                                           Leader of the Year awards. The
                                           awards recognize and honor the
                                           outstanding achievements of
                                           young people, enhance the
                                           perception of youth, and raise
community awareness of their positive contributions. Winners can earn up
to $2,000 for their leadership. Students currently enrolled in high school in
Phoenix, or who live within Phoenix city limits, can apply. For a complete
list of requirements to apply, and details on the monetary prizes awarded,
visit Phoenix.gov/Education. Applications are due Friday, Feb. 24 at 5 p.m.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunity!
Come be a part of the Super Bowl events in
downtown Phoenix by volunteering as a Zero
Waste Ambassador! These special
ambassadors will help the City of Phoenix
reach its goal of a Zero Waste Super Bowl,
which means diverting 92% of waste away from
the landfill.

Duties may include:
   • Educating attendees about what is recyclable and compostable
   • Ensuring attendees place items in the correct container
   • Monitoring containers and reporting fill levels to Public Works staff
Minimum age: 18
Sign up today: https://cop.samaritan.com/custom/501/opp_details/3200

Plan Ahead for Burton Barr Central
Library Visits in January & February
                               From February 8 – 12, high profile events are
                               scheduled to be held in Hance Park, adjacent to
                               Burton Barr Central Library. This will have an
                               impact on access to the immediate area around
                               Burton Barr Central Library and access to library
                               parking and book drop beginning January 18,
                               through February 16.

Visit Burton Barr Central Library's Location page on
phoenixpubliclibrary.org for regular updates.

Mark Your Calendars for Library
Closures
All Phoenix Public Library locations will be closed the following day:
   •   Monday, January 16 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Book drops are open 24/7 at all Phoenix Public Library locations.*

*Beginning January 29, Burton Barr Central Library’s book drop will only be available by
foot. For your convenience, items checked out at Burton Barr Central Library may also
be returned to any Phoenix Public Library location with the exception of Interlibrary
Loans, Laptops, and WiFi Hotspots.

Keep up with all the news. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/phxlibrary,
       on Instagram at instagram.com/phoenixpubliclibrary and
          on Facebook at facebook.com/phoenixpubliclibrary.