Burton Barr Central Library - Hours, Address & Services | Phoenix, Arizona
Burton Barr Central Library
Phoenix Public Library System · Downtown Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Fri–Sat: 9am–5pm
About Burton Barr Central Library
The Burton Barr Central Library is the flagship location and administrative headquarters of the Phoenix Public Library system — a network of 17 branches serving the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Opened in May 1995 following a 1988 bond issue, this architectural landmark stands five stories tall and encompasses 280,000 square feet of civic space in the heart of downtown Phoenix.
Designed by celebrated Phoenix architect Will Bruder in collaboration with DWL Architects, the building is widely regarded as one of the finest public library structures in the United States. Its design vocabulary draws from the Sonoran Desert landscape: a copper-clad exterior oxidizes gracefully in the Arizona sun, motorized louvers on the south facade control heat gain, and shade sails protect the north elevation. At the building's core, a soaring "crystal canyon" — a central atrium housing three high-speed elevators and a grand staircase — anchors all five levels.
Perhaps the most dramatic feature occurs twice a year: at solar noon near the solstices, specially aligned roof skylights project perfect circles of sunlight directly down the building's north-south midline axis, reaching all the way to the ground-floor lobby — a nod to the ancient solar observatories of the Southwest.
The library houses approximately 550,000 volumes across its floors and serves hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. In 2021, the American Institute of Architects honored the building with its prestigious Twenty-Five Year Award, given to works that have stood the test of time and remained vital to their communities.
🏛 Opened 1995
📏 280,000 sq ft · 5 Floors
🏆 AIA 25-Year Award 2021
🌿 LEED Silver Certified
📚 ~550,000 Volumes
Phoenix Public Library does not impose daily overdue fines for late returns. Return materials when you're done — no late fees accumulate. Replacement fees apply only for items that are lost or not returned.
🕐 Hours of Operation
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
Call Center: Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm · TTY: 602-254-8205
Hours may change on holidays — confirm before visiting.
🛠 Services & Amenities
- 📶 Free Wi-Fi & public computers
- 🖨 Mobile printing & scanning
- 🔒 24/7 outdoor holds lockers
- 📡 Wi-Fi hotspot lending
- ♿ Assistive technology workstations
- 🎓 College Depot (college planning center)
- 🏛 @Central Gallery (Arizona artists)
- 🩺 Blood pressure kit checkout
- 🎫 Culture Passes (free museum admission)
- ⚡ EV charging available
- 🍱 Food donation collection site
Programs & Special Spaces
Children’s Place
Located on the 1st floor, the Children’s Place offers storytime, MACH1 STEAM programming, BabyTime sessions, and summer reading adventures. Family Storytime (bilingual) runs regularly — check the online calendar for current scheduling.
Teen Central (4th Floor)
A dedicated 5,000 sq ft space exclusively for ages 12–18. Includes a music room with instruments to borrow, gaming stations, movie screen, computers, study areas, and regular teen-specific workshops and events.
MACH1 Makerspace (4th Floor)
100% free with a library card. Offers classes in coding, robotics, 3D printing, sewing, music/video editing, and more STEAM skills — open to children, teens, and adults. One of the Valley’s only free makerspaces.
College Depot (2nd Floor)
A free, full-service college planning center with over 10,000 sq ft, a 66-computer lab, and a team of advisors offering one-on-one appointments and workshops on admissions, financial aid, and scholarships. GED classes also held here.
Arizona Room (2nd Floor)
A specialized Southwest research collection featuring historical Phoenix yearbooks, photographs, newspaper clippings, phone books, letters, and regional archives. Invaluable for local history research and genealogy.
Hive @ Central & Adult Programs
The Hive supports entrepreneurs with business mentoring, IRS tax series, and the Business Roadmap. Adult programs include job search workshops, technology training, author talks, book clubs, and the beloved Sit, Stay, Read therapy dog program.
Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Greater Phoenix Digital Library / Libby
Borrow over 245,000 eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines instantly via the free Libby app. Available on any iOS, Android, Kindle, or Chromebook device.
hoopla Digital
Instant, no-waitlist access to eBooks, audiobooks, streaming movies, TV shows, music, and graphic novels. No holds needed — borrow and enjoy immediately.
Kanopy
Stream 30,000+ films including Criterion Collection titles, award-winning documentaries, independent films, foreign cinema, and The Great Courses educational series.
Freegal Music+
Access 18 million+ songs from Sony Music and 93,000+ independent labels. Stream or download tracks directly to your device — all free with your library card.
New York Times Online & PressReader
Free unlimited access to The New York Times (including NYT Cooking and Games) plus PressReader for thousands of global newspapers and magazines.
eLearning & Test Prep
Online courses for GED prep, citizenship, civil service exams, nursing certification, and more. DIY resources covering home repair, legal forms, cooking, crafts, and small business tools.
Reading Arizona & Arizona Images
A curated collection of nonfiction and fiction eBooks/audiobooks focused on Arizona history and culture, plus a digital photo archive of historical Arizona images.
Library Speakers Consortium
On-demand author talks, thought leader presentations, and recorded literary events — available anytime through the eLibrary portal.
Getting a Phoenix Public Library Card
A Phoenix Public Library card is 100% free for Maricopa County residents and unlocks access to 17 branch locations, 550,000+ physical items, and an extensive suite of digital resources.
🏛 Apply In Person
Visit any Phoenix Public Library branch with a valid photo ID that shows your current address. Accepted IDs include:
- Arizona driver’s license or state ID
- Passport, work visa, refugee card
- ADOT Mobile ID or Apple Wallet ID
- Employer or school-issued photo ID
If your ID lacks a current address, bring a utility bill or postmarked mail from the past 30 days. Children under 13 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
💻 Apply Online (eCard)
Can’t visit in person? Apply for an eCard online in minutes at phoenixpubliclibrary.org. Your eCard provides immediate access to all digital resources including Libby, hoopla, Kanopy, and more.
Note: eCards expire annually and cannot check out physical materials. Visit any branch later to upgrade to a full account.
- Up to 35 physical checkouts at a time
- Up to 15 holds
- All digital platforms (Libby, hoopla, Kanopy, Freegal)
- Culture Passes for free museum admission
- Hotspot lending & device borrowing
Non-Maricopa County Arizona residents: $40/year. Non-Arizona residents are ineligible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nearby Phoenix Public Libraries
Burton Barr Central Library is the flagship of the Phoenix Public Library system. Here are three other nearby branches:
Harmon Library
1325 S. 5th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Mon, Fri–Sat: 9am–5pm
Tue–Thu: 10am–6pm
Sun: Closed
A 12,400 sq ft neighborhood branch featuring art-filled skylights, EV charging, holds lockers, and a 75-seat meeting room.
Ocotillo Library & Workforce Center
102 W. Southern Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85041
Mon, Fri–Sat: 9am–5pm
Tue–Thu: 10am–6pm
Sun: Closed
Specializes in workforce literacy — resume writing, interview skills, job search resources, and the PHXWorks career collection.
Arabian Library (Scottsdale)
Scottsdale, AZ
(Scottsdale Public Library)
Greater Phoenix metro area
Part of the regional
library consortium
Part of the Greater Phoenix Digital Library consortium — your Phoenix library card gives you access to shared digital resources across the region.