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Mesa Public Library projects Gateway branch opening, bookmobile expansion and budget carryover
Summary
Library leadership told the council the Gateway branch will move in August and open this fall; the department expects a $2.5 million carryover to outfit the branch, continues the Mesa Reads initiative and plans a 12‑stop bookmobile route.
Polly Bonnet, Mesa Public Library director, and management assistant Tony Garvey presented the library department’s budget and program updates to the council.
Bonnet summarized a year‑long Mesa Reads initiative that has logged more than 2,000,000 minutes of reading so far; staff increased the citywide goal after strong early participation. The library’s bookmobile, the Read Runner, launched with 1,500 books and 12 planned stops; staff said the first Read Runner outing drew 588 people.
For the Gateway branch, staff said they plan to hire the branch team by June and begin moving into the site in August, with a planned fall opening (staff cited Oct. 18 as an initial target). The department asked to carry forward about $2.5 million in one‑time funds into fiscal 2025–26 to complete opening‑day purchases (shelving, furniture, fixtures and an opening collection). Bonnet said the opening day collection budget is about $1.1 million; overall Gateway outfitting estimates were part of a larger $3.4 million furniture, fixtures and equipment allocation in the revised FY24–25 budget.
Tony Garvey presented operating figures: the library system expects ongoing operations for all branches, the bookmobile and outreach team to total about $11.9 million in FY25–26. He said the department’s general‑fund share remains a fraction of the total budget and the department uses federal, state and grant funds for many programs.
Bonnet also noted operational changes: the library will not renew a PressReader subscription that gives access to many magazines and newspapers because the service underperformed; the department said readers can still access other magazine and news services through existing apps. Library personnel adjustments include eliminating two page positions; staff estimated that will reduce shelving throughput by roughly 80,000 volumes per year and slow an ideal 24‑hour turnaround time for reshelving.
Ending: Staff said they will bring a master plan report back to council when complete and provided reminder dates for summer reading and Gateway‑related outreach events.
