Velma Teague Library Temporarily Moves to Civic Center Annex After Electrical Fire

An electrical fire has shut down the Velma Teague Library in downtown Glendale, forcing the branch that has anchored the Murphy Park neighborhood for more than five decades into temporary quarters while city officials sort out a repair bill that could reach the millions of dollars.

The fire damaged the library's electrical system, and the city says known asbestos inside the building has limited access for investigators and repair crews. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

At an August city council meeting, city staff estimated that electrical repairs alone could cost around $2 million. Additional work on heating, cooling, plumbing, and roofing could push the total significantly higher, and the timeline for repairs could stretch up to a year, according to ABC15 reporting.

A temporary home on the corner

In the meantime, the city plans to relocate library services to the Glendale Civic Center Annex, a recently remodeled space of roughly 10,000 square feet located at 5752 W. Glenn Drive, just around the corner from the current library. City staff say the temporary location should open to the public within about 90 days, and officials are working to make it a full-service library location before the end of the year.

The temporary space will carry a smaller book collection than patrons are used to, but the library says patrons can still access materials and computers at the Main Library at 5959 W. Brown Street, about three miles north on 59th Avenue. Patrons can also request items from other city libraries, which can typically deliver requested materials within 48 hours. The free GUS Bus service is available daily for patrons who need a ride in the meantime.

A fight over Murphy Park

The closure has reopened a debate that began more than two years ago, when the city proposed tearing the library down. Community members launched a petition that drew thousands of signatures, and the effort helped keep the library open at least temporarily, according to ABC15.

Rory Goree, a community member who helped lead that petition and is set to join the Glendale City Council in December, said the community deserves a voice in decisions about the library's future.

"Whatever we do, it's got to be from the people," Goree said. "It's got to be their voice telling us what to do, guiding us in what they need and they want."

A librarian's legacy

The branch's name carries its own history. Velma Teague was a longtime Glendale librarian who fought to preserve Murphy Park, the grassy, tree-lined space surrounding the library, from being paved over for parking. She did not want the building named after her but eventually agreed, according to ABC15. Her family has remained active in the Glendale community, including in the recent effort to save the library.

Julia Taggart, a Glendale resident, pointed to Phoenix's Acacia Library in the Sunnyslope neighborhood as a reason for hope. Acacia suffered a fire months after it opened in 1969, was repaired, and has remained in place for more than 50 years.

"The memories and the stories in that building matter, and you can't replace that," Taggart said. "Every library should have a park."

The Velma Teague branch is part of the Glendale Public Library system, which also includes the Main Library, the Foothills Branch, and the Heroes Regional Park Branch. City officials said the library's events for all ages are already being held at the Civic Center Annex while the original building is closed for repairs.