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Southwest History Lesson
Released: 03-28-09
The Southwest Branch Library opened its doors on September 10, 2002 and celebrated with a grand opening on October 2.
But the branch's history began in the fall of 1999, when Mary Barbosa - then the coordinator of TUSD's Family Resource & Wellness Center - was inspired to provide an underserved area with library services. Her vision was to construct a library adjacent to the Wellness Center that would serve the Southwest community, including Tohono O'odham and Pascua Yaqui residents.
What happened next was a successful collaboration between the library and the Tucson Unified School District. With County Supervisor Sharon Bronson's support and encouragement, they came together to establish the Southwest Branch Library.
With 2,200 square feet and a lot of flexibility, the staff at Southwest Branch Library does it's best to serve the community's diverse needs. Features include 7 public computers and a work area for WiFi users, an open children's area for Storytimes, weekly gaming sessions and monthly Family Movie Night, and dynamic displays and contests each month.
Source: "The Scoop: a publication for the employees of Pima County," October 2002