Pima County names Tess Mayer library director, outlines multiyear downtown Valdez Library move

In a monthly employee video address, a Pima County official said Tess Mayer will take over as library director in September, succeeding Amber Mathewson, who retired last month after more than 30 years with the county, including eight years as public library director.

The official said the county views its libraries as among the nation’s finest and described plans to relocate the downtown Valdez Library into the historic Wells Fargo building across the street rather than repair the existing structure. The official said the existing building is “filling its age” and that it would be “more cost effective for the county and better for our patrons to move into the historic building across the street than to spend 3 times the purchase and renovation costs to fix and improve the current building.”

Tess Mayer, the official said, brings roughly 15 years of library leadership and innovation experience and joins Pima County from the San Francisco Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest. “Tess has a wealth of experience, including 15 years in library leadership and innovation, and I’m excited to see her vision for our libraries come to fruition,” the official said.

The county official emphasized the relocation is a multiyear effort. “Don’t start lining up at the entrance to the new Valdez version yet since it will take a few years to work with the community and library staff and patrons on the services, programs, and amenities at the new version of the downtown library, and then do the renovation and the move,” the official said. The county said community engagement with staff and patrons will precede design and construction work.

No specific project timetable, cost estimates or funding sources were provided in the address. The official said more details will follow as planning and community outreach proceed.