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Library
Name of new library in Eastmark community of Mesa is Gateway
City of Mesa
Wood and weathered-steel construction materials are planned at the 28,250-square-foot building with three main entrances in the housing community of Eastmark.
Posted
Funds set aside for new library
The city’s 2023-24 budget includes funding for the southeast Mesa library to be constructed at 5036 S. Eastmark Parkway, including:
• One-time cost of $1.485 million for furniture, service desks, shelving, displays, workstations, appliances, supplies, etc.;
• One-time cost of $580,000 for computers, self-checkout kiosks, security gates, sorters and other technology;
• One-time cost of $1.3 million for start-up book/materials collection;
• Ongoing cost of $1.58 million for personnel; and
• Ongoing cost of $530,000 for other services/commodities.
The city of Mesa’s newest library branch at 5036 S. Eastmark Parkway in the Great Park in the Eastmark community will be known as Gateway Library.
Library staff asked Mesa residents and library users to help name the newest library branch as part of an online survey. From this survey, Gateway emerged as the clear and resounding choice among the finalists, according to a release posted on Facebook by Mesa Councilman Scott Somers @somersformesa.
The selected name is the culmination of a yearlong process in which library and city staff, library advisory board members and consultants worked through a variety of name options.
In keeping with Mesa Public Library’s convention of location based names, all choices were inspired by landmarks that are known in the southeast Mesa region and votes and comments were recently sought in a survey on three choices on what to call the library: Flatiron, Mesa Gateway or Signal Butte.
“True to its name, we believe this new branch will serve as a gateway to new connections, exploration and learning,” the release states. “Thank you to all who took part in our survey and helped name Mesa’s newest library. A special thank you to Mesa voters and City Council for continued support and city management for invaluable guidance as we worked through this creative process. We look forward to sharing updates on Gateway Library’s progress over this next year.”
Wood and weathered-steel construction materials are planned at the 28,250-square-foot building with three main entrances in the housing community of Eastmark. Design is underway and construction is anticipated to take place fall 2023-spring 2025. Funding is from the 2018 bond election for arts and culture.
The city of Mesa has three libraries that are open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday. They are: Main Library, 64 E. First St.; Dobson Ranch Branch, 2425 S. Dobson Road; and Red Mountain Branch, 635 N. Power Road. Expected to open this fall is a Mesa Express Library at Monterey Park, 7045 E. Monterey Ave. Go to mesalibrary.org or call 480-644-3100.
