About Us

Tolleson Public Library Historical Timeline

1946The original library was a 576-square-foot space in the corner of a Quonset hut (a converted WWll barracks donated to the City), in the Tolleson Community Building at 92nd Drive and Washington Street.  Edna Davis and Louise Lamar volunteered as librarians along with other Tolleson Woman’s Club volunteers:  Phyllis Slaughter, Virginia Wade, and Frances Vaughn who circulated 400 donated books.

Tolleson Library 1946
Photo provided by Arizona Historical Society
1957Tolleson City Council votes to add a librarian position to City staff budget.
1960The City of Tolleson assumes full responsibility for maintaining and operating the library.
1962Tolleson Public Library becomes a branch of the Maricopa County Free Library.
1964-1965• Phyllis Slaughter and Tolleson Woman’s Club members initiate plans to build a library.
• Senate Bill 196 passes, paving the way for federal funding of public libraries in towns with a population of less than ten thousand.
• Last-minute community donations collected for the building project from schools, churches, clubs, businesses, and individuals helped meet the application deadline for federal funding.
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1967

Tolleson Public Library breaks ground on its 3,744 square-foot facility.

Tolleson Library 19467

1968
Dedication of the Tolleson Public Library building takes place at 9555 West Van Buren Street.
1972
Judith Tritz Memorial Patio dedicated.
2016
State-Grants-in-Aid award from the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records adds Children’s Reading Area.
2017
50th Anniversary Celebration.
2019
Tolleson Public Library becomes fine-free.
2021
Tolleson Public Library adds Library-on-Wheels service. Library-on-Wheels donated by JBS Hometown Strong.
Tolleson Library on Wheels 2021
2022
Tolleson Public Library opens at 9055 W Van Buren Street.
Tolleson Public Library 2022

The 10,000-square-foot facility offers thousands of physical books, e-books, e-magazines, and audiobooks; music, TV, and movie streaming; language learning tools; college prep, cultural event passes, archiving and digitizing; free access to computers and the internet; quiet, indoor and outdoor study spaces for adults and children; programs and classes for children and teens; research resources including free databases, employment, and career resources.