About Us
Palo Verde Valley District Library Mission Statement
The mission of the Library is to provide to all the citizens of the Library service area access to materials and services to meet individual and group needs for information, education, recreation, personal enrichment and cultural growth. Its economic commitment is to make the best possible use of allocated and donated funds for appropriate materials, programs, equipment, services and a well-trained staff.
Board of Trustees
The Palo Verde Valley District Library is a special district library governed by a five member
Board of Trustees who are responsible for establishing library policies and overseeing their implementation.
- Nancy Meyer - President Appointed 12/04/2020 Term Expires 12/06/2024
- Kay Smith - Vice President Appointed 12/04/2022 Term Expires 12/06/2024
- Joe M. Caldera – Secretary Appointed 10/25/2023 Term Expires 12/04/2026
- Joyce Anderson - Trustee Appointed 12/02/2022 Term Expires 12/04/2026
- Jimema "Joy" McMillin – Trustee Appointed 02/22/2023 Term Expires 12/06/2024
Historical Information
In 1912 the Woman’s Improvement Club sponsored the first collection of books that was to become the Blythe Public Library. By 1914 it was housed next to the post office. The library’s home changed with alarming frequency after that. In 1928 the library found refuge in the Little Brown Church, but went roaming again until finally settling, in 1936, in the south wing of the City hall building which had recently been vacated by the city fire department. This was the “old” city hall located on S. Spring Street where the parking lot north of El Solano is now found. Bee Waggoner, the first trained librarian, was employed at this time.
On November 2, 1958, after a bond election for a Blythe civic center which was to include the library failed, the residents of Blythe voted 1,675 for and 484 against to tax themselves at the rate of 15 mils for the formation of a Special District to provide library services and bond repayment for the people of Blythe and the Palo Verde Valley. December 1, 1958 the County of Riverside officially recognized the new library district by recorded resolution. In July 1959 the Palo Verde Valley Library District association was officially formed.
On November 3, 1959 a special bond election for $130,000 was held for the building of a new library at the present location of 125 W Chanslorway. It passed with 371 yes votes and 67 no votes. On April 18, 1960, Press Construction Company of Palm Springs, CA was the successful bidder for construction of the new library with a base bid of $97,150. Additional expenses for sidewalks, curbs, parking, sewers, legal work, architect fees, flooring, and heating and cooling systems brought the grand total to about $133,200.
In 1980 a children’s wing was added, bringing the library to its present 5,804 square foot capacity. The new wing was dedicated as the Dale R. Braman wing in honor of Mr. Braman’s 20-year tenure as President of the Library Board.
The Library became the 11th member of the Inland Library system in 1975. The Inland Library System is a consortium of libraries from Inyo, San Bernardino and Riverside counties that pool their resources, thus enabling each member to draw upon the collections of other member libraries. This makes it possible for patrons to obtain, for personal use, books and reference materials not available locally.
Bill of Rights
The Board subscribes to and supports the following basic principles which govern the service of the Library.
A. As a responsibility of library service, books and other library materials selected should be
chosen for values of interest information and enlightenment of all the people of the
community. In no case should library materials be excluded because of the race or
nationality or the social, political, or religious views of the authors.
B. Libraries should provide books and other materials presenting all points of view concerning the problems and issues of our times; no library materials should be proscribed or removed from libraries because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
C. Censorship should be challenged by libraries in the maintenance of their responsibility to provide public information and enlightenment.
D. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
E. The rights of an individual to the use of a library should not be denied or abridged because of age, race, religion, sex, national origins, or social or political views.
Child Safety Policy
Donation Policy
Friends of the Palo Verde Valley Library
Be a friend to your library. The Friends group sponsors different projects to raise funds for the purchase of special material and equipment for the library. The Friends of the Library is now designated a non-profit organization. Any donations are tax-deductible.Friends of the Library