A Brief History of the Desert Foothills Library
From our humble beginnings in February 1954, to our present day establishment … come take a stroll with us through our historic timeline.
May 1957
1957 – 1960
The Library found its first long-term home in Nelson Hall, the parish hall of the Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church.
September 1960
1960 -1970
October 1966
1966
The first used book sale is held.
April 1969
1969
The library is renamed the Dorothy E. Smith Branch of the Maricopa County Free Library.
March 1975
Early 1975
The Cave Creek School gave notice the Library had to move! There was not enough room anymore and an anonymous couple stepped forward to pledge $30,000 to a free standing library; The Desert Foothills Library Association was formed, incorporated, and a Board of Directors appointed to see this crisis through.
February 1977
February 14, 1977
The Board chose the current location of the library on top of Saguaro Hill for the proximity to the school and the beautiful views. The grand opening was exactly twenty-three years after the first signed contract with Maricopa County. The Library was 2,000 square-feet. The Library is renamed the Desert Foothills Library.
July 1980
1980
Over 43,200 materials circulated that year!
May 1984
1984
Growing again! A new 1,000 square-foot children’s wing was built to incorporate the growing needs of the community.
November 1986
1986
Arizona House Bill no. 2372 was passed by the Arizona Legislature enabling the counties to form ‘library districts’ with taxing authority and requiring towns to either join or withdraw. On June 10, 1987 the Desert Foothills Library Association unanimously voted to leave the Maricopa County Library System to become an independent public library.
April 1987
1987
Since the Desert Foothills Library’s independence from Maricopa county Library System it has remained unique in that it is the only public library in the county that is privately funded. Unlike the county’s other twenty-five libraries, the DFL does not have its own tax district.
February 1990
Early 1990s
The Library’s specialized Southwest Collection was born to offer a separate reference and reading room.
April 1994
1994
Time for another remodel! The space for DFL would be doubled. This remodel would add a larger children’s area, move shelving space, a modest multi-purpose room, computerized card catalog, three Macintosh computers, and access to the Internet.
December 2009
Late 2000’s
True to fashion, the library was due for another expansion! The Library was open seven days a week, even in the mess of the remodel. With this new space the Friends of the Library were able to move into their own book sales room. Other new features included: increased shelving space, a storytime room in the children’s section, study rooms, state-of-the-art conference room, enhanced adult programs, WI-FI throughout the building, patios for quiet reading, and a botanical garden.
July 2017
2017
Added parking is created by building a large parking garage south of the Library building, hosting more than a hundred parking spaces!
January 2026
DFL to Screen PBS’ The American Revolution Douseries
As a proud recipient of a community partner grant from PBS in commemoration of The American Revolution docuseries, co-directed by Ken Burns, Desert Foothills Library is excited to be able to screen each episode at the library!
The American Revolution examines how America’s founding turned the world upside-down. Thirteen British colonies on the Atlantic Coast rose in rebellion, won their independence, and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired centuries of democratic movements around the globe.
The sheer number of the battles, and the details about them, attest to how hard our ancestors fought for the notion of a Federalist society. At the end, The American Revolution reminds us that the quest to maintain that society, and to strive to achieve a more perfect union, is far from over. — David Bianculli, NPR
Join us at the library for episode screenings over the next few weeks.
Tuesday, January 20 – Episode 1: “In Order to be Free”
Thursday, January 22 – Episode 2: “An Asylum for Mankind”
Tuesday, January 27 – Episode 3: “The Times That Try Men’s Souls”
Thursday, January 29 – Episode 4: “Conquer by a Drawn Game”
Tuesday, February 3 – Episode 5: “The Soul of All America”
Friday, February 6 – Episode 6: “The Most Sacred Thing”
Please visit the library’s website to register in advance for each screening.