Past Programs and Projects

Your Support Has Made a Difference

The Pima County Public Library serves the third largest land area of any library system in the United States. Our Libraries enrich lives and build our community through opportunities to learn, to know, to interact and to grow. With 27 public library branches serving Tucson and communities across Pima County including Arivaca, Green Valley, Sahuarita, South Tucson, Ajo, Marana, Oro Valley and Catalina, the Library provides a wide range of free services that contribute to the economic development of the community.

Career Online High School

We wish everyone could attend the annual graduation ceremony for Career Online High School (COHS) students. Watching graduates of all ages receive their diploma is amazing. Some cry, some cheer and all are smiling. The graduate’s appreciation for financial support is genuine and immense. Through your donation they are given the opportunity to grow and reach their potential. This year again, the wait list for COHS is long. Support this program today and give another student the chance to excel.

“I really appreciate the opportunity to have been a part of this program. It has opened many doors for me that we’re not possible without my high school diploma. Now I am able to enroll in college courses in the near future hopefully and get a teaching degree.” — Career Online High School Graduate

Mobile Hotspots

Last year, donations provided for the purchase of 25 Mobile Hotspots. More are needed. Imagine your day without internet access and you’ll understand the challenges these students and their families face. Mobile Hotspots can be checked out of the Library for an eight-week period and provide internet access with unlimited data on a fast, secure network. Mobile Hotspots connect families to the resources they need.

“I am connected to the world!” – An adult learners using a Mobile Hotspot to connect to English classes with Literacy Connects

It All Adds Up!

Research shows that children exposed to basic math concepts before preschool and kindergarten begin to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills and are even more likely to grow into better readers and writers by third grade. In other words, early math literacy plays a major role in preparing our youngest learners for success in school and beyond.

With seed funding of $18,000, the Pima Library Foundation launched a campaign to help the Pima County Public Library create an early math literacy program.

Your donations enabled us to provide children in Pima County with essential math skills, equipping them with the tools they need for academic achievement and future opportunities.

Early Math Readiness

Early math literacy describes skills children need – from birth to age 5 – to form the foundation for math and reading competency. Early math thinking skills include concepts like making sense of patterns, identifying quantities, evaluating data, and counting. These skills help children move beyond just knowing number names and number order; they help children make sense of their world.

Our supporters made a difference in the lives of children by investing in early math readiness programs. Your donation directly supported the expansion of these transformative programs and ensured that every child has the opportunity to thrive academically and pursue their dreams.

Sahuarita Library Outdoor Performance Patio

When communities have access to well-designed, flexible public spaces, they fill them with cultural, civic, and economic vitality. With the support of individual and corporate donors and community partners, the Pima Library Foundation led a campaign to fund the construction of the Sahuarita Library Regional Outdoor Performance Patio. The 1,000 square foot covered venue, which opened in September 2021, serves more than 30,000 Sahuarita area residents.

Your donation made a tangible impact on our community’s cultural vitality and played a key role in creating a space where imagination thrives and community bonds grow stronger.

Workforce Investment

The economic engine of Pima County needs a library system that goes beyond books. With your help we’ve invested in Pima County’s Libraries so all our teens can get help with academic and life skills, all adults can gain skills in high-demand fields, and all local entrepreneurs can get help growing their businesses. In so many ways, library programs can fuel innovation and boost our local economy.

By supporting workforce development, you actively shaped Pima County’s economic landscape. Your donation fueled the creation of innovative programs that broadened employers’ approach to workforce development and empowered individuals to thrive in the evolving job market. Your support helped bridge the skills gap, equipping individuals with the tools they needed to thrive in a rapidly changing economy.

Code Club

The benefits of learning how to program computers are extensive, but the chance to learn coding is not open to all kids. With your support, the Pima Library Foundation provided our community’s children with the opportunities they needed to succeed. From Java to Python to Scratch, Code Clubs engages students in a collaborative environment, helping them strengthen critical thinking skills, and supporting 21st century academic subjects and life skills.

Supporting Code Clubs inspires the next generation of coders and problem solvers. Your donation provided youth in Pima County with access to technology and bright career paths, enabling them to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Ready, Set, School!

Thanks to the generous support of the Zuckerman Community Outreach Foundation, the Pima Library Foundation funded the Ready, Set, Learn Program for the Pima County Public Library.

This program focused on executive brain function activities that help children develop learning skills to get them ready to be successful when they start school.

Homework Help

Homework Help offers free, personalized tutoring to over 32,000 Pima County learners of all ages. Help is available online and in person at various public schools, libraries, Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson, and at the Juvenile Detention Center.

Donate And Help Support
The Pima Library Foundation!

Whether your interest is in giving your financial support, your time or your voice — there are many different ways to get involved with the Pima Library Foundation in support of our Pima County Public Library.