Mesa planning for another library branch

Mesa is writing the first chapter in the story of new library as it looks to open a tiny branch in the city's southeastern area.

The city calls the 2,500-square-foot facility an express library, though the demand for service is much greater than the size of the initial configuration. The library's service area includes about 78,000 people - though many municipal libraries serve areas populations of as little as 20,000 to 30,000 people.

"There is a significant population waiting to be served," library director Heather Wolf said.

The city is looking to place the library in a nearly vacant strip mall at Hawes and Guadalupe roads. It would be open only 23 hours a week, split between Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The shelves would hold a limited variety of the most popular fiction and nonfiction, as well as children's books. It wouldn't have newspapers, magazines or reference materials. A limited staff means all patrons would have to self-check books and volunteers would be an important part of keeping the operation open.

The city plans to open a full-fledged branch in perhaps 7-10 years on the former General Motors Proving Ground site that's now owned by Scottsdale-based developer DMB. The land isn't available yet, nor is city funding for a typical branch.

Mesa used a similar approach years ago with the Red Mountain Branch library, which began as a small storefront in a strip mall. Even with such limited service, Wolf said she envisions many patrons driving the shorter distance for some of their needs.

"It's a model that has proven successful," Wolf said.

The library is also considering vending machines for some popular items that the public could access 24 hours a day. Patrons could check materials in and out much like the Redbox DVD machines that are commonly placed at convenience stores.

The Community and Neighborhood Services Sub-Committee approved the concept Monday, and the idea will soon go to the City Council for consideration. The library could open in early 2010, Wolf said.

Mesa would use bonds and impact fee funds to pay for the nearly $600,000 worth of books, furniture and equipment.

While the city has cut library hours recently because of its budget woes, the new library would cost little to run because its operating expenses would be covered with the roughly $50,000 a year the library makes from selling used books.

The library would also bring more money to Mesa that is now going to a library in Gilbert. The nearest library for many east Mesa residents is the Southeast Regional Library, which is run by Maricopa County Library District and funded through a tax all which funnels about $270,000 tax dollars from Mesa residents to Gilbert under the library district's financial arrangement. By getting Mesa residents to stay in the city, the Mesa library will keep more of that money to operate its facilities.