The Camp Verde Town Council voted to allow staff to move forward on the idea of establishing a 24-hour library branch in the Verde Lakes area at its Sept. 15 meeting. The library “branch,” designed by Envisionware, is similar to a vending machine for books, allowing users to check out and return books, DVDs and other library materials while also providing services like the use of the library’s online catalog, which would allow users to download other library resources.
Camp Verde Community Library Director Kathy Hellman said while the branch would provide physical materials to Verde Lakes residents, it would also provide internet access to the large number of those in the neighborhood who can’t afford their own.
“This came to my attention not so much because of the potential of items as it is the potential to get internet access out to the Verde Lakes area,” she said.
The need to bridge the digital divide in the area was highlighted both throughout the COVID- 19 pandemic and while the Backbone Fire was burning nearby. During those times of crisis, many Verde Lakes residents who lacked internet access had a difficult time staying up-to-date on current information. The 24- hour library would provide Wi-Fi and other emergency resources for residents.
“There’s a large screen that allows communication of emergency information and/or library programs,” Hellman said. “They would gain remote access to library staff at the library. There’s also security cameras on the branch so that we can make sure people are behaving themselves.”
Hellman said there is also the potential of providing Chromebooks or tablets to library users through the branch.
Should the branch come to fruition, the library has suggested the corner of Verde Lakes Drive and East Cactus Blossom Lane as a potential location.
The total cost for the project would be over $269,000, including the branch itself, which would cost a total of $172,170, the site prep, concrete slab and canopy. The estimated cost would also include the annual maintenance and subscription fees, a new library code and CVCL staff costs.
Additional costs that are still to be determined would include broadband, monthly ISP costs, and electrical and other utility costs.
Hellman said the library would apply for state grants, eRate funds, which would pay for 80% of the broadband installation and ongoing ISP costs, and could potentially use Arizona CARES Act funds to help pay for the project.
The council was generally supportive of the project.
“It seems like a great idea and a great service because it’s 9 miles I think from the center of town out to Verde Lakes,” Council Member Jackie Baker said. “So if there is a real good use of that it seems like it would be a wonderful thing to move forward with.”
Verde Lakes resident Deborah Moody attended the meeting to speak in support of the branch, saying that she had spoken with several families in the neighborhood who were very excited by the possibility of having a library branch closer to home.
“Families said that to have the kids have the independence to go to the library by themselves would just be so amazing, not only for the parents and the transportation to get to the library, but just because it’s such an important identity to have,” she said. “It’s so thrilling that you would consider this …. It really touched the hearts of the people I talked to.”
