The town of Queen Creek has entered into a new $1.8 million intergovernmental agreement with the Maricopa County Library District for operation of the Queen Creek Library.

The existing agreement expires on June 30. Under the current agreement, the town provides the library building and is responsible for building operations and maintenance, including payment of utility services, insurance, janitorial services, and maintenance of the building and landscaping.

According to a staff report, the Maricopa County Library District is responsible for providing library services, including “library programs, administration, staffing, equipment, books, computers and other materials necessary for the provision of library services for all residents in the town of Queen Creek.”

Under the library district’s practice, when cities and towns operating with the district reach 50,000 in population, they begin to pay for the costs of operating the library. With Queen Creek well past this mark, the new agreement recognizes the town is taking over costs for providing library services

The new agreement includes library cards and services for all town residents without the need for the town to pay an additional fee for Pinal County residents, which had been part of the past agreement.

According to a staff report, the town will “have the ability to work closely with [Maricopa County Library District] staff to increase programming such as story time and other popular activities as needed.”

The $1.8 million cost is a budgeted item within the fiscal year 2022-2023 Community Services budget. The library is located at 21802 S. Ellsworth Road.