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Pima County Public Library Weighs Closure of Multiple Locations Amid Staff Shortage
The Pima County Public Library system is confronting a significant staffing shortage that is hampering its ability to serve a community grappling with challenges like homelessness, substance abuse, and mental illness. County officials have indicated that emergency measures may lead to the closure of three library branches by the end of the year, with another branch potentially closing by the end of 2025, according to an August 16 report presented to the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
The branches under consideration for closure in December include Dewhirst-Catalina, Santa Rosa, and Frank De La Cruz-El Pueblo libraries, with the Southwest Library facing closure by the fall of next year. Should these closures occur, staff from the affected branches will be redistributed to other locations to better address staffing needs across the library system.
Additionally, the report recommends downsizing the flagship Joel D. Valdez Main Library from three floors to one by the end of this year, citing extensive repairs and a decline in monthly visits to less than half of pre-pandemic figures. If approved, the Main Library will close for a year for renovations, during which staff from the closed floors will be reassigned.
Amber Mathewson, Library Director, emphasized that these measures are still tentative and the report remains a draft. “I don’t want the community to get the idea that we don’t think those spaces are important, because there are not that many spaces in the world where people can go for free,” she stated in an interview.
The staffing crisis is underscored by a reduction of 23 percent in librarian positions across the U.S. over the past five years; Pima County alone has seen the loss of 100 librarians since 2020. As of July 2024, the library system is experiencing a shortfall of 1,136 staffing hours per week, creating a challenging situation for maintaining library services.
“However painful it may be, we cannot continue to support the full number of 27 library locations with our available staff,” the report outlines. This situation becomes more complex as the library system strives to meet growing community needs.
The Main Library is also a crucial resource for students, particularly those from nearby City High School. Principal Jessica Melrose noted, “A lot of our kids know the library as a safe space. Not having the library just subtracts one of those things that they’re used to utilizing.” Many students rely on the library for a structured environment after school, further emphasizing the potential impact of closures.
Proposed shutdowns result from comprehensive evaluations of operational costs and community demands. The Dewhirst-Catalina Library, for example, faces higher costs due to its leased property. The report also highlights that 53 percent of its library cards are held by individuals outside of Pima County, raising questions about its sustainability.
The Santa Rosa Library, situated at 1075 S. 10th Ave., also faces closure due to increased violent incidents which necessitate the presence of a security guard. If closed, patrons will be directed to alternative library locations. Similarly, the Frank De La Cruz-El Pueblo Library is struggling with safety issues, requiring law enforcement presence at its facility.
The Southwest Library is in a leased building that is not conducive to library services, with renovation needs further complicating its future. Its closure is not expected until the reopening of the Richard Elías-Mission Library in 2025.
As uncertainty looms over the future of the library system, one staffer confided feelings of anxiety regarding upcoming changes, particularly with a closure timeline approaching. The report acknowledges a necessary shift in library service models, stating, “This model has not functioned in the ways we had hoped and planned when small locations were opened several decades ago.”
The Library Advisory Board is set to convene on September 5 to discuss the report and its implications for the Pima County Public Library system.
