Yuma County Library District

1921

The Yuma City Council applied to the Carnegie Foundation for a grant and was advised that  $10,000 could be made available for a library building if the city could provide a suitable location.  The City Council established the location as being Block 113 of the City of Yuma to be known as Sunset Park.
The Yuma City Council passed Resolution #102, creating the office of Carnegie Public Library trustees, and outlining their duties and responsibilities. 
The Yuma Carnegie Library was opened February 24, 1921 with 1,053 volumes and seating for 20 persons. The Yuma City Council approved a budget for $600, and Mrs. Addie Kline was hired as the first librarian and continued until 1957. 

1949

In 1948 the City of Yuma’s $93,000 Bond Election passed to enlarge and remodel the original Yuma Carnegie Library building.
The remodeling was completed with a 28x100’ two-level addition.  
The main floor was used as the Yuma City Library, and the lower floor was leased to the Elementary School Board of Yuma for a school library.
In July 1956, the lease with the city schools expired, so Children’s Department moved to the lower level.  
Mrs. Dorothy Steiert, hired as first Children’s Librarian, stayed to 1970.
In 1957, Mrs. Mildred Ludecke became the first Yuma library professional librarian with a Master’s degree.  She continued as the Librarian until 1961.

1966

As Yuma County had no public libraries, in 1958 a formal contract was signed between the City of Yuma and Yuma County for county library services within Yuma County.
Carnegie Library’s name was changed to Yuma City-County Library (YCCL).  
Bookmobile service was started with three-month loan of a bookmobile from the Library Extension Service, Arizona State Library.  
In 1965 a $165,000 City of Yuma Bond passed to enlarge and remodel the YCCL to a total of 22,605 square feet, This was matched by federal funds.  
On March 21, 1966 the YCCL Groundbreaking ceremonies were held, and YCCL construction was completed in October of 1966, at a cost of $335,000.  The architect was James S. Liberty, and the contractor was Dennis Construction.  
The remodeled Library had seating for 100, and 16 full time employees.

1987

In 1987 the Yuma County Board of Supervisors established a secondary tax district to support libraries, and the District was officially named Yuma County Free Library District.
 
An Anti-District initiative petition regarding the Library District was placed on the November ballot, and an intensive political campaign to continue the Library District was launched by Yuma County Friends of the Library.  The Library District Ballot Proposition passed resoundingly with a 77% yes vote to support the continuation of the District.

With the creation of the District, the Library Board of Trustees, which had been an operating board, became an advisory board. 

The Yuma Library became the main library of the Yuma County Library District, and each of the cities and towns entered into intergovernmental agreements with the District to provide library services.