About Us
Strengthening the Community
- Art Exhibits
- Several libraries have gallery space where local artists may display their original artwork. Galleries are open during library hours and there is no charge to visit. If you have quesitons about exhibited art, please contact the library hosting the exhibit. Artists with questions about submitting art for display should read the Art Submission Guidelines, Guidelines for Sculptural and Three-Dimensional Art (if applicable), and the Exhibitor Waiver Form.
- Libraries with gallery space are: Eckstrom-Columbus Library, Joel D. Valdez Main Library, Kirk-Bear Canyon Library, Murphy-Wilmot Library, Oro Valley Library, Quincie Douglas Library, and Salazar-Ajo Library.
- Bookbike
- The Bookbike provides books and information about library and literacy programs, library cards as well as bike maps and information about bicycling events. The books are free gifts to the community. The Bookbike will be making monthly visits as well as showing up at special events.
- LGBT Services Committee
- The LGBT Services Committee was established in 1997 to better serve southern Arizona's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender library users. It seeks to fulfill this mission by creating exciting programs such as LGBT author visits, and through participation at various outreach events such as Pride in the Desert. On a daily basis we review, order and make LGBT materials available for all PCPL users, regardless of age, location or sexual orientation. The Pima County Public Library's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Services Committee is dedicated to upholding the library's Mission Statement as well as the Library Users Bill of Rights for all of our customers. PCPL is one of the few public libraries in the country to have an established Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Services Committee. In fact, Tucson was the first municipality in Arizona to adopt a non-discrimination ordinance (PDF) regarding sexual orientation.
- Newborn Book Program
- Newborns are connecting with Pima County Public Library! Every newborn at University Medical Center, Tucson Medical Center, St. Josephs Hospital and Northwest Hospital receives a library card application, a library information sheet, and a Storytime bookmark (listing the dates, times and locations of all library Storytimes) upon discharge. Approximately 1,000 newborns each month are introduced to the library by this program.
- Pima County Juvenile Detention Library
- The Pima County Juvenile Detention Library is run by Pima County Public Library. The collection focuses on the education and leisure interests of the youth detained at Pima County Juvenile Court.
- Public Health Nurse at the Library
- Pima County Public Library has a public health nurse on staff. The role of the public health nurse is to help make the library a welcoming and safe place for all of our visitors. The public health nurse improves the physical and mental health of our customers through education, referral, crisis prevention, nursing intervention and disease management.
- Read to Me, Arizona!
- This literacy campaign stresses the importance of reading aloud to children often and early in life. A coalition of organizations, including Make Way for Books, the Pima County Public Library, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, and Reach Out and Read Southern Arizona, provide resources to help families read aloud to young children, birth to age 5. Services include community Family Read Aloud Nights, where families in low-income areas of Tucson and Southern Arizona learn effective read aloud practices; Blue Book Houses, which are located at various social service agencies and provide gently-used books; and ReadToMeArizona, which contains a wealth of early literacy information and read aloud resources for families with young children.
- Reading Tutoring for K-5 Students
- Free one-on-one tutoring in reading is available through a partnership with Tucson OASIS. Tutoring services are available in metro Tucson libraries weekdays, weekends and throughout the summer. A commitment to meeting once a week for 9 weeks is required. Read more about the OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program here or contact Carlinda Dirks at Tucson OASIS at 322-5627 for more information or to volunteer.
- Ready to Read
- We teach parents and caregivers about early brain development and stress the importance of exposing babies and young children to language, reading and books. The program provides information on child development, how to read with babies and young children and ready to read skills. Promotes the development of the language and reading skills that are the foundation for success in school and a lifetime of learning.
- Summer Reading Club
- Join us every summer for summer reading programs for children, teens and adults. Win prizes just for reading and come to great events all summer long.
In one year at your library...
| People visit a library | 5,792,641 |
| Items are borrowed | 7,220,685 |
| Children have fun at a program | 221,781 |
| People ask a research question | 80,448 |
| People get a new library card | 59,726 |
| Students learn about the library | 35,587 |
| People attend a community meeting | 136,743 |
| People use a library computer | 1,434,606 |
| Students get personalized homework help | 58,376 |
| Adults attend a library program | 37,015 |
| People download a digital book | 242,207 |
| People hone skills in a computer class | 21,829 |
| People use a library database | 303,759 |
| People visit the library online | 4,189,701 |
The library is funded by Pima County. Find out more about the Pima County Board of Supervisors by reading the minutes of their meetings.