Greetings,

I am happy to announce that the County Library purchase was approved by the Governing Board at their meeting last night, March 27, 2007. Next steps include review and approval of the sale by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and Board of Library Directors at their meeting on April 18, 2007.

The College District agreed to pay the Maricopa County Library District $4 million plus closing costs, funded by revenues from the sale of bonds overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2004.

The purchase is central to moving plans forward for our college to offer expanded educational programs. This beautiful facility brings the opportunity for our students to participate in creative approaches to teaching and learning. We can now offer new educational opportunities designed by our faculty to meet the needs of students of all ages.

This also provides PVCC a new place where community members of all ages and interests can be offered training and development. To that end, we are currently in discussions with various university partners and school districts to bring early college-level opportunities to high school students, and to bring degree-completion programs through our university partners. So this is a wonderful situation for everyone – PVCC and the community.

The library building’s 65,929 square feet on 7.848 acres will result in a much-needed increase in PVCC facilities. The building will be used for general-purpose classrooms, offices and labs, plus spaces for academic partnerships and the Center for Teaching and Learning. Our students can expect to begin using the building within 6 to 18 months.

The terms of the purchase include the Maricopa County Library District’s continued use of 10,892 square feet of space as a branch library until June 30, 2011. It would also include PVCC’s assumption of an existing lease of approximately 9,300 square feet to the Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center Charter School until July 31, 2013.

Proposed renovations of the library building will take place in two stages, the first to begin as soon as the purchase is completed, and the second in late 2011 or early 2012. The Maricopa County Library District is the 2006 recipient of the Arizona Pioneer Award for Quality.

I want to thank each of you for your assistance in making the acquisition of the County Library a reality.

Cordially,

Mary Kay
President