OUR HISTORY
- 1960 Del Webb opened the first five model homes in Sun City, the world’s first master planned retirement community. After record first year home sales, the need for a library to serve the community’s cultural, educational and recreational needs was recognized. Sun City gave 820 square feet in the Town Hall Center, now the Fairway Recreation Center site, for use as Sun City’s first library, a mini-library open three days a week. Records were kept in shoeboxes. Maricopa County Library supplied the initial inventory of 2,500 books. Eight volunteers ran it.
1961 An informal “Friends of the Library” group was organized to raise money and to serve as volunteers. The following year, the “Friends” recognized the need for, and created, a Library Operating Board.
1971 The Sun City Library, Inc., was formed as a nonprofit, tax exempt corporation, which controlled the library until 2009.
1972 The Webb Corporation made 2,500 square feet available at the Lakeview Recreation Center for a much needed move to larger facilities. The first paid librarian was hired, aided by a volunteer staff of 30.
1974 The Webb Corporation made space available in the Fairway Center for a branch library. At the same time, planning was underway for a new Bell Recreation Center. The plans included space for a 10,250 square foot library, with room for a 5,430 square foot expansion.
- 1976 The Bell center library opened.
- 1982 The library expanded to 50,000 volumes, serving 43,000 patrons, with 275 volunteers, who gave 49,989 hours of service.
1984 Always in need of financial support, the Friends of the Library used a large variety of fundraising methods, including an organized annual bridge marathon. The library didn’t just offer books, but also included “Books on Wheels,’ cassettes, jigsaw puzzles, and large-print books. Polaroid cameras were available for check out.
2008 Facing continued financial challenges (even a controversial fee for library cards did not meet the needs), the Sun City Library voted to pursue becoming part of the Maricopa County Library District (MCLD).
2009 The Sun City Libraries became part of the MCLD, closed for a brief time for renovations, and then reopened in the summer. To reflect their new role of support, the nonprofit “The Sun City Library, Inc.” was amended to become “Friends of the Sun City Libraries, Inc.” Its mission as and is “To enhance the community through support for the Sun City libraries.”- 2009 The “Books Around the Corner” bookstore opened in the old Hoover Room of the Bell library. Proceeds (over $45,000 in 2024) from the 100% volunteer operation support the libraries with materials, equipment, and program needs.
2024 As the leases with MCLD were coming up for renewal, concern grew that the board of directors of Recreation Centers of Sun City was considering closing one or both libraries. The Friends mounted a campaign alerting residents to the possibility. Community support for the libraries was overwhelming as more than 1,000 residents attended a special RCSC meeting to demand that the libraries remain in operation. This resulted in RCSC and MCLD signing new five-year leases.- Today The Friends of the Sun City Libraries has 90 volunteers serving as board members or advisors, working in the bookstore, helping in the libraries, or interacting with people in assisted living and memory care facilities. The Sun City libraries offer cardholders access to more than 677,494 items, including printed books, audio books, DVDs, CDS, magazines, and even ukuleles. We’ve come a long way since 1961, but one thing has remained consistent: Sun City and the Friends of the Sun City Libraries, Inc. know the immeasurable value of a great community libraries.