Santa Cruz mobile library damaged in break-in; staff working to restock and restart service

Lisette Montoya, a staff member at the Santa Cruz County superintendent’s office, told the Nogales Library Board of Trustees that the county’s Santa Cruz mobile library was broken into and that thieves cut wiring and likely stole books and other equipment.

Montoya said the mobile unit needs a new generator and rewiring after the break-in and that, as of her report, “Right now, we only have about a 30 books.” She said staff are inventorying losses and expect to have a fuller update by the end of the week.

The mobile library project is being supported by funding from South32 through the Hermosa project, Montoya said, which enabled the county and library to repair and re-equip the unit after the loss of other grant funding. Montoya said library staff will train her next week on checking out materials and issuing library cards so the mobile unit can resume visits to schools and community events.

Board members asked where the unit had been stored at the time of the break-in and whether the police were involved. Montoya said the unit had been parked overnight at 1904 (address given in meeting), awaiting a paint job; staff later discovered the theft the next morning. She said wiring had been cut, which caused sparking during a parade, and county staff rewired the unit about a week and a half before her report.

Montoya described outreach plans and fundraising efforts to restock materials. She said she would seek donated books and grants (including another application to South32) and planned to network with regional book-festival contacts and Pima County partners. Board members and staff asked how community groups should request the mobile library; Montoya said requests go through the superintendent’s office and a Google Sheet sign-up with a QR code.

The board thanked Montoya for the update and asked for follow-up when the inventory and any police report details are available.