Picture a place where your whole family can go that is quiet and invites reflection.

Picture a place that will fit a room-full of preschoolers for story-time and crafts.

Picture a place that has a meeting room you can reserve, a set of computers if you don't happen to have one at home, and someone available to help you find just about any piece of information you care to know.

Oh yes, and that place will have 40,000 books.

Perhaps you've heard that Maricopa County Library District is opening a library on the grounds of High School #5 in Anthem, but you might not know that this library will become a Regional Library for Maricopa County Library District, joining the District's two other Regional Libraries in Surprise and Gilbert.

The library, newly named North Valley Regional Library, by any standards will be large. At 26,000 square feet, it dwarfs most other District branch libraries. A traditional branch like the one at Fountain Hills is 18,000 square feet. The staff will be substantial, with 2 supervisors, 3 adult services librarians, 1 teen librarian, 2 youth librarians, and a few other assistants and staff. Why so many employees? Because it is a regional library, the facility will be open 7 days-a-week for a total of 70 hours.

The library's proximity to the high school was a calculated maneuver by the Deer Valley School District and Maricopa County Library District to offer a service to the school, and also to give the library access to the school's facilities. Students will be able to use the library during the day rather than having their own, smaller library. They will have access to the library through their own, monitored entrance.

The library benefits from the partnership as well, as the District has allowed them to use its auditorium facilities after-hours for special presentations, such as plays, author presentations and puppet shows.

Although the mixture of public library patrons and the High School students has left some wondering about the partnership, North Valley Regional Coordinator Deborah Tasnadi isn't worried. "I have worked with several shared use facilities, and we've never seen any trouble," says Tasnadi. "It's an excellent partnership."

Tasnadi is excited about the ability of the library to help High School Students. "We want to help develop lifelong learners - people who, after school is complete, like to read just for fun." Although the High School will not staff a librarian, the North Valley Regional Library staff will be able to help teachers with library services, pull collections for the school, and run a freshman orientation.

But helping High School students is the tip of the iceberg. Tasnadi described the new facility as a "popular library." That means that the staff monitors what the community checks out from the library, and will stock more of similar titles. For example, the library will have a large collection of best-sellers. "If there is a waiting list for a best-seller," she says, "it typically won't be won't be more than two weeks, whereas in other libraries it is often at least 6-8 weeks."

Of course the younger kids won't be neglected. Story time for kids from 2-5 will be a big component, and the library will have summer reading programs and special activities for the older kids.

The facility will be high tech as well, and not just with a few computers. Library cards will have a "smart chip" that will eventually be used as a "debit" card to pay for library fines and other library charges. Machines will handle the check-out process for you. They will also automate the "check-in" process. You set your book on the conveyer belt, the book gets checked automatically by a device, and you get a receipt. All this automation allows the staff to spend more time helping library customers to find the information or the book they need.

Although much of the furnishing costs are coming out of the Library District budget, Tasnadi cites some things that aren't in the budget. "We're bringing in equipment from the old North Central Regional Library, but this equipment won't be 'state-of-the-art.' Money is needed for special equipment, furniture, art work. There's no money to fund an opening day celebration. The meeting room available for people to book won't be stocked with equipment. We'd also like to buy DVD players and listening stations."

The library will follow the tradition of other libraries, sponsoring a "Friends of the Library," a volunteer organization that helps the library with fundraising and other needs. Another local organization, the GFWC Anthem Women's Club, is sponsoring a "buy-a-brick" program. Individuals and businesses can buy a brick that will be added to the walkway in front of the library. They offer a variety of 8 different bricks, ranging in price from $60 - $750, depending upon the size and other options. Donors will be able to add an inscription to the brick, immortalizing their contribution to the library. Bricks can be purchased at the GFWC booth at Anthem Days. The money raised will be used for learning lab computers and for furniture and fixtures.

The new library will be a great addition to the North Valley and a wonderful destination for the whole family. More than just a regional library, this facility will be a testament to learning and a gift we give to ourselves and our families.

For more information on purchasing bricks for the library, call Val at (623)551-2045 or email anthemwomen@cox.net.

Visit the Maricopa County Library District's Web site http://mcld.maricopa.gov
Other donation opportunities are at http://libcat.maricopa.gov/northvalley