New Project Announced: El Mirage Library will move to a New Location

Board of Supervisors votes to fund programming room in newly renovated space

EL MIRAGE, Ariz. (May 13) – The El Mirage community will soon be browsing for books in a brand new library, as the City and Maricopa County Library District (MCLD) embark on a new partnership to renovate an old fire station into a library. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors recently voted to approve an amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of El Mirage and MCLD to continue the project.

The updated IGA not only establishes the move from the current El Mirage Library into the new and improved space, but also approves an addition of a County-funded programming room. The $415,610 addition to the project will provide a much-needed space for the library to host free programs for all ages.

“The approval of this funding is a new way of working with our municipal partners to respond to the needs of its community,” said Maricopa County District 4 Supervisor Clint Hickman. “We want to do this project right and the programming room is vital for the library to serve its main purpose: finding ways to provide access and opportunity to its community members.”

The new library will be located at an old fire station building just south of the library’s current location on North 1st Avenue. With the limitations of the current 2,500 sq. ft. building, serving the rapidly increasing population of new families in El Mirage has proven difficult. This new 6,195 sq. ft. building and programming room will provide the infrastructure the library needs to grow with the community it serves. Once the renovation project is complete, the El Mirage Library will move to the new location.

“On behalf of the City of El Mirage, we are grateful for the Maricopa County Supervisors’ decision to broaden this partnership with our city, as it sends a clear message about our commitment to improving quality of life for our residents,” said El Mirage Mayor Alexis Hermosillo. “Libraries are community anchors for engagement and this expansion will continue to provide opportunities for residents of all ages to have increased access to technology, as well as formal and informal learning.”

MCLD and The City of El Mirage are currently working to establish a timeline for the project.

ABOUT MARICOPA COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT:

The Maricopa County Library District (MCLD) is a special taxing district that runs 18 libraries countywide. MCLD’s mission is to provide access and services so residents experience an improved quality of life. Each year, the Library District welcomes up to three million visitors, holds thousands of free events and programs for all ages, and hosts Maricopa County Reads, the award-winning Summer Reading Program. In 2020, the Library District held nearly 6,000 events, including 700 online events, and circulated 7.5 million physical and digital checkouts. For Maricopa County and Town of Queen Creek residents and property owners, a library card is free. For more information, visit https://mcldaz.org.