Libraries in Phoenix
Donna Reiner, a local historian and a good friend of Get Your PHX, has written many articles over the years for the Arizona Republic and others about Phoenix history. We use her services when we list properties of historic significance to help us tell the stories behind the homes.
We are happy that Donna is allowing us to re-publish some of her articles on a monthly basis. If you or your business ever needs a historian, let Donna know at laydeescholar “at” hotmail.com.
We generally think of libraries as being in permanent buildings whether they be large, small, or tucked away in someone’s home. But fixed sites have never adequately served those who find it difficult to travel due to distance, disability, or lack of reliable transportation.
Over time, the creativity of librarians and libraries found solutions. If the reader could not come to the library, why not take the books to them? Those moveable libraries came by horse, cart, bicycle, and ultimately a full fledged bookmobile which was often a large bus filled with shelves and shelves of books.
Phoenix started using bookmobiles in the late 1940s to serve outlying readers of the rapidly growing city. Initially the head librarian started with two “retired” city buses and the Arizona Republic always posted where the buses would be.
If you are old enough, you may remember the bookmobile. It would be conveniently stationed at set places on a specific day of the week and with set hours. Young readers and old anxiously awaited that day and hour.
One enthusiast commented, “Before we had a library in our area, the bookmobile would come to Maryvale Mall every Saturday!!! Each week my friends and I would go to check out books.” Michael Ging recalled riding his bike to West Plaza at 35th Avenue and Bethany Home Road to get books in the summer from the bookmobile. Early versions of the bookmobile were probably not airconditioned, but by the 1980s they were. A welcome relief for youngsters coming in out of the heat during the summer.
Today there are 16 branches of the Phoenix Public Library plus Burton Barr Central Library. Not much need for a bookmobile.
Ten years ago, the Little Free Library movement began. And with that program, one can find various sized “stands” offering books (no check out or overdue fines). Some neighborhoods, like Coronado Historic District, sponsored such libraries for the benefit of anyone who happens to want a book. It’s all in the name of promoting literacy.
Bibliophile, book worm, lover of reading, bookish. Finding the best and/or appropriate word to describe one’s passion for reading is not that easy. All I can say is that I don’t leave home without one!
