The future of libraries in Sun City is uncertain. The two branches of the Maricopa County Library District, located in the Bell Recreation Center and the Fairway Recreation Center, are in spaces leased from the Recreation Centers of Sun City (RCSC). The RCSC does not plan to extend the leases beyond one year.
This information was recently relayed to Jeremy Reeder, director of the district library, who shared it with me, as the president of the Friends of the Sun City Libraries.
For 15 years, the library district, the RCSC, and the Friends have partnered to provide quality library services to the community, with the RCSC providing facilities and maintenance and the library district providing staff, collections, and services, as per the business model of the district. The Friends provide additional support and advocacy as needed. Up to this time, the arrangements have seemed to be appropriate and fair.
With the intent to shorten and eventually end the leases, the RCSC would seem to say that the public libraries are unnecessary and unwanted, and that the space could be utilized for other services.
Because our libraries are important for this community, and indeed, all communities, the Friends feel that the public needs to know about this intent, so that the public can make their wishes known to the RCSC.
RCSC management and the board of directors will be addressing the lease issue in the next few weeks. A special website has been created by the Friends to provide more information on this issue at https://saveoursuncitylibraries.weebly.com/. The public is encouraged to contact RCSC administrators, especially General Manager Matthew D’Luzansky, and the nine elected members of the RCSC board of directors to share their perspectives on the planned lease termination.
The RCSC Board will hold its monthly member/board exchange meeting at 9 a.m. Monday, April 8, at the Sundial Recreation Center. RCSC cardholders are allowed to speak for up to three minutes. This is an opportunity to let the RCSC know how Sun City residents stand on the value of libraries.
As a key element of quality of life, libraries encompass education, recreation, technology, and other important aspects of today’s world. It would be a shame if our popular Sun City community is deprived of their value and service.
