Scottsdale library seniors resources come from three separate systems: Scottsdale Public Library with five branches, the Maricopa County Library District branch in Fountain Hills, and the nonprofit Desert Foothills Library in Cave Creek. Cards are free for Maricopa County residents, and Scottsdale and the county district both run homebound book services.

Northeast Valley libraries at a glance

  • Scottsdale Public Library: Appaloosa, Arabian, Civic Center, Mustang and Pony Express @ Granite Reef. Main line 480-312-READ (7323).
  • Scottsdale Home Delivery and Large Type Books by Mail: 480-312-2040.
  • Fountain Hills Library (Maricopa County Library District): 12901 N La Montana Dr, 602-652-3000.
  • County Books By Mail for homebound Maricopa County residents: 602-652-3070.
  • Desert Foothills Library, a nonprofit independent library: 38443 N Schoolhouse Rd, Cave Creek, 480-488-2286.
  • All three take part in MAX, the countywide book sharing service.

See homes in Scottsdale

Three library systems, one corner of the Valley

People moving here from a town with one library system are often surprised that Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and the foothills towns each run things differently. Scottsdale Public Library is the city system. Fountain Hills is served by a branch of the Maricopa County Library District. Cave Creek and Carefree are home to Desert Foothills Library, which describes itself as Arizona's only nonprofit independent library. Each has its own card, its own catalog and its own calendar.

The good news is that they are not walled off from each other. All three are partners in MAX, a countywide book sharing service funded by the Maricopa County Library District. You borrow a book from another partner library with your current card, and a courier brings it to the pickup library you choose at no cost to you. So if you live in Fountain Hills and the book you want sits on a Scottsdale shelf, you can usually request it without getting a second card.

Scottsdale Public Library branches and cards

Scottsdale Public Library lists five locations:

  • Appaloosa Library, 7377 E. Silverstone Drive, Scottsdale 85255
  • Arabian Library, 10215 E. McDowell Mtn. Ranch Road, Scottsdale 85255
  • Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale 85251
  • Mustang Library, 10101 North 90th St., Scottsdale 85258
  • Pony Express @ Granite Reef, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road, Scottsdale 85257

A standard card is free for any Maricopa County resident, not only people with a Scottsdale address. That matters for buyers looking in Fountain Hills, Rio Verde or north Phoenix who still shop and run errands in Scottsdale. You can register online or at a branch. In person, bring a photo ID such as a driver's license or passport, plus proof of your current physical address, like a utility bill, lease or mortgage statement, or car insurance. P.O. boxes are not accepted, which catches a few winter residents who use a mailbox service. Cards renew yearly, and you can renew online by uploading recent mail that shows your name and address.

If you live outside Maricopa County, the library offers a paid card and a short-term visitor card with tighter limits. Check the card page for the current terms before you count on full digital access.

Scottsdale home delivery and books by mail

Scottsdale Public Library runs a Home Delivery Service for homebound patrons. Per the library's accessibility page, a Scottsdale resident qualifies if they are physically unable to visit the library, have been confined to home for more than 60 days, and live in a non-driving household. There is also a Large Type Books by Mail program for patrons who cannot read standard print and are eligible for Free Matter for the Blind, again in a non-driving household. The number for both is 480-312-2040.

Every branch has large print books, wheelchairs, magnifiers, large print keyboards and screen zoom on public computers, plus drive-up book drops. Civic Center Library adds elevators, a motorized cart and a print enlarging machine. Sign language interpreters and assistive listening devices can be requested through the City of Scottsdale accommodation form. For readers with visual or physical disabilities, the library also points to the Arizona Talking Book Library run by the state.

Classes and tech help in Scottsdale

The adult services page lists Tech Help through Ask the Experts sessions at the branches for questions about your own phone, tablet or laptop, plus One-on-One appointments for trickier problems. Book discussion groups and movies show up as regular events, and BookMates gives personalized reading suggestions. Free computers and Wi-Fi come with printing, scanning and faxing. Dates and times change, so check the events calendar linked from scottsdalelibrary.org before you go.

Fountain Hills Library

The Fountain Hills Library sits at 12901 N La Montana Dr and is part of the Maricopa County Library District. The district lists hours of 9 AM to 7 PM Monday through Wednesday and 9 AM to 5 PM Thursday through Saturday, closed Sunday, but confirm on the branch page since hours can shift. Branch services include computers and Wi-Fi, printing, study rooms, a seed library, telescopes to borrow, a Friends of the Library bookstore, a drive-up book drop and ADA parking. Programs are posted on the district events calendar rather than the branch page.

A district card is free for any Maricopa County resident, business owner or property owner, and adults can apply online. For homebound county residents, the district's Books By Mail service lends Large Print books by mail with free postage and a three-week loan. Call 602-652-3070 or use the online form, and the district says it responds within two business days. For help finding or using materials, or to request sign language interpretation or event accommodations, call 602-652-3000 (TTY 711). Event accommodation requests need at least 14 business days of notice.

Desert Foothills Library in Cave Creek and Carefree

Desert Foothills Library is at 38443 N Schoolhouse Rd in Cave Creek, phone 480-488-2286. It is a nonprofit, run by the Desert Foothills Library Association, and lists Carefree, Cave Creek, Anthem, New River, Rio Verde and Scottsdale among the communities it serves most. The library says its free card opens up a large monthly program schedule, online borrowing, ancestry resources and its bookstore.

Its Tech Help program has been offered by appointment on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons for help with library apps like Libby and Cloud Library, eBook downloads and basic device questions. Bring your device, your library card and, on Apple devices, your Apple ID. I could not find a posted homebound delivery service or written card eligibility rules for Desert Foothills, so call the desk before you assume either one.

How I use this with buyers

When someone is comparing the Northeast Valley, I add the closest branch to the notes for each home along with the floor plan. A single-level home near Mustang or Arabian Library, or close to the Fountain Hills branch, is easy to pick out on a map. If you are looking inside an age-restricted (55+) community, the occupancy rules are set in that community's CC&Rs, and the library card process is the same as for any county resident.

Questions people ask

Can I use a Scottsdale library card if I live in Fountain Hills?
Yes. Scottsdale Public Library issues free standard cards to Maricopa County residents, so a Fountain Hills address in the county qualifies. Bring photo ID and proof of address.

Do I need three cards for Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and Cave Creek?
Not always. All three systems are MAX partners, so you can often borrow from another partner library with the card you already have and pick it up at your own library.

Does Scottsdale Public Library deliver to homebound residents?
Yes, for Scottsdale residents who cannot visit the library, have been homebound for more than 60 days and live in a non-driving household. Call 480-312-2040.

What is the Maricopa County Books By Mail number?
602-652-3070. The service mails Large Print books to homebound county residents with free postage.

Is Desert Foothills Library a city library?
No. It is a nonprofit independent library in Cave Creek. Call 480-488-2286 for card details.

More 55+ pages

I'm Terry Day, REALTOR® with DeLex Realty. I help buyers compare homes across Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, Carefree and nearby 55+ communities, down to which library branch is closest. Call or text 602-483-4665.

Call Terry: 602-483-4665

Sources: Scottsdale Public Library accessibility services, Scottsdale Public Library cards, Scottsdale Public Library locations, Scottsdale Public Library adult services, MCLD Fountain Hills Library, MCLD Books By Mail, MCLD borrowing, MCLD accessibility, MCLD MAX announcement, Desert Foothills Library Tech Help, Desert Foothills Library Association, AZ Gives