Gila Bend Library to reopen through new partnership after 2025 closure

PHOENIX – Library services are coming back to Gila Bend after a nearly yearlong absence, following a new agreement between the town and the Maricopa County Library District.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Town of Gila Bend that will allow the county library district to reopen and operate the local library.

The move comes after the Gila Bend Library closed on May 22, 2025, when the Gila Bend Unified School District ended its partnership with the county. The library had been operating in a facility owned by the school district since 2021.

Now, the service is set to return to its longtime home connected to the town’s community center at 202 N. Euclid Street, where it operated for more than three decades.

“This is a major milestone for the Gila Bend community,” Supervisor Steve Gallardo, who represents Gila Bend and the rest of District 5, said in a release.

“From access to reliable internet and workforce resources to early literacy programs and summer meal support for children, restoring library services will have an immediate and lasting impact. The Gila Bend Library has been a pillar of this community for decades, and we are proud to bring it back.”

County officials said the library has long served as more than a place to check out books. In its final year before closing, it logged more than 53,000 visits, hosted hundreds of programs and provided job assistance to local residents.

Under the new agreement, the county library district will handle staffing, materials and technology, while the Town of Gila Bend will maintain the building.

Before reopening, the 2,665-square-foot facility will get minor upgrades, including new carpet, paint and lighting.

Maricopa County Library District Director Jeremy Reeder said the goal is to build on decades of service in the community.

“For more than 30 years, this library has made a meaningful difference in people’s lives, and we’re excited to build on that legacy in partnership with the Town,” Reeder said.

Renovations and the move are expected to take about six months, with the library projected to reopen in fall 2026. The agreement between the town and county will run for an initial five-year term.

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