Campbell: Libraries provide vital service to Sun City

The Friends of the Sun City Libraries today informed me the management and board of Recreation Centers of Sun City plan to close the Maricopa County libraries at the Fairway and Bell recreation centers.

This is unconscionable action from the RCSC management and board, which seem to have been discussing these closures for two months with no communication to Sun City residents and RCSC members. So much for the transparency and communications touted by the RCSC general manager and board. I’ve read through board minutes, finance reports and other documents and find nothing about the library closures and repurposing of the facilities.

Apparently, RCSC Finance Director Kevin McCurdy told the Friends’ president that General Manager D’Luzansky made this decision and RCSC “needs the space,” but McCurdy doesn’t know for what purpose. Another comment was about “his disdain that Maricopa County doesn’t pay rent for the library facilities.”

So what if the libraries don’t pay rent; the county pays for basic maintenance and funds all library operations.

McCurdy also stated Fairway is “unsafe due to homeless nearby.” Well, Mr. McCurdy, I visit the Fairway library every week and have never felt unsafe. And if the library is “unsafe,” then does that, by extension, mean the entire Fairway rec center is unsafe? I, for one, do not believe that.

The libraries serve a vital purpose for Sun City and neighboring communities, offering a no-cost option for books, DVDs, free internet and computers, and numerous programs and activities. That “no cost” is critical to a senior community, many of whom survive on a fixed and limited budget.

Statistics in the attached letter indicate approximately 450 people per day (six days per week) visited the two libraries in 2023. I wonder how many RCSC clubs and activities can boast of 450 people in attendance per day. How many golf courses have 450 players each day?

The RCSC spends millions to maintain and even add to outdoor activities, which (unlike libraries) are virtually unusable during our extreme summer heat such as golf, softball, pickleball, tennis, lawn bowling, mini-golf, etc. I appreciate having these activities available, but the RCSC needs to recognize libraries as being every bit as important to residents and, perhaps, used by a far greater number of people.