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125th Anniversary of Phoenix Public Library125th Anniversary of Phoenix Public Library<div class="ExternalClass367FBE38B8A949809E44D923871874C7"><h2>​<span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">2023 marks our system’s 125</span><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">th</span><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US"><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph"> anniversary of serving our community!</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph"> </span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></h2><p><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"></span>​</p><div><p><span role="presentation"></span><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US"><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph">On June 21, </span><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph">1898</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph"> the “Friday Club” opened our first Phoenix Public Library location in two upstairs rooms of the Fleming Building</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph"> </span><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph">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 11</span></span><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US"><span data-fontsize="14" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph">th</span></span><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US"><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph"> Avenue and Washington was opened in February of 1908</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph"> and served as our primary location until 1952. It was replaced by the original central library constructed </span><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph">on property donated by the Heard family </span><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph">at </span><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph">Central and McDowell</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph">.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></p></div><div><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US"><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph">In 1995, our current flagship, Burton Barr Central Library was opened, and the original central library became what is now the Phoenix Art Museum.</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph"> Recognizing how critical library services are to a growing city, community leaders have consistently supported Phoenix Public Library expansion</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph"> and th</span><span data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph">rough the decades, we have grown to be a system of 17 locations.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></p></div><div><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">For 125 years, generations of </span><span data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US"><span data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" data-ccp-charstyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"d76f225f-c8d4-47fc-aa5e-b492891e15cf|7","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469775450,"normaltextrun",201340122,"1",134233614,"true",469778129,"normaltextrun",469778324,"Default Paragraph Font"]}">Phoenicians </span><span data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun">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…</span><span data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun"> </span><span data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun">discover they have what it takes to go to college…find a welcoming place…</span></span><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">and of course, we have always helped fellow book lovers find their next great read! </span></p></div><p><br></p></div>

 

 

 

 

Join us as we celebrate 125 years of Phoenix Public LibraryJoin us as we celebrate 125 years of Phoenix Public Libraryhttps://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/images/About Us/125/125thAnniversary-StackedLogo_web.jpg568

 

 

 

 

Share Your Library Story!https://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/Lists/AddOnContent/DispForm.aspx?ID=218Share Your Library Story!218<div class="ExternalClass432EE4EF01EA4FCD8737147BAE235561"><h2>​We would love to hear from you! </h2><h3>Please share your special Phoenix Public Library story with us <a href="https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=XGm5lg5PvUKK37p1V2A0a1MIG8IRB41AimYmL4PNuP1URFFEWEFCUlBRWjVVRlkzOTdGOVBPWFBQSS4u" target="_blank">here.​</a>​<br></h3></div>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join the 125th Anniversary Reading Challenge in 2023!Join the 125th Anniversary Reading Challenge in 2023!https://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/documents/125ReadingChallenge.pdfExplore the printable reading challenge sheet and be inspired to read with Phoenix Public Library in 2023! Start any time you like and read at your own pace. Happy reading!New Window