Burton Barr Central Library
🏢 Phoenix Public Library · Downtown Phoenix, Arizona
Burton Barr Central Library
Rising like a desert mesa at the heart of downtown Phoenix, Burton Barr Central Library is the 2021 AIA Twenty-Five Year Award winner designed by Will Bruder — where engineered skylights trace the summer solstice across a one-acre reading room and the full resources of the Phoenix Public Library system await free of charge.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–7pm |
| Thursday | 9am–7pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: (602) 262-4636
Website: phoenixpubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 8559FW6G+XP (Phoenix, AZ)
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📖 About Burton Barr Central Library
Burton Barr Central Library opened in May 1995 as the flagship of the Phoenix Public Library system, replacing a 1950s facility on McDowell Road. Designed by bruderDWL architects — a collaboration between Will Bruder and DWL Architects + Planners — the five-story, 280,000-square-foot building rises from a downtown block like a contemporary desert mesa. Its one-acre fifth-floor Great Reading Room is celebrated for a summer-solstice light event: precisely placed skylights project circles of sunlight along the building's north-south midline every June 21. Twelve-inch-thick precast concrete walls, motorized solar louvers, and thermal mass temperature control made it an early model of sustainable public architecture, earning LEED Existing Buildings Silver certification in 2010 and the AIA Twenty-Five Year Award in 2021. The library was named for Burton Barr, Republican Majority Leader of the Arizona House of Representatives from 1966 to 1986 and a decorated WWII Army officer.
⭐ What makes this library special
- 2021 AIA Twenty-Five Year Award winner — recognized as an icon of late-20th century sustainable public architecture; LEED Existing Buildings Silver (2010)
- Fifth-floor Great Reading Room spans one full acre; skylights are engineered to project solstice light circles at solar noon on June 21 each year
- Free MACH1 makerspace (4th floor): 3D printers, laser cutting, robotics, music production, coding & sewing — open to all ages with a PPL card
- Arizona Room (2nd floor) — deep Southwestern heritage research collection from prehistoric times to the present
- Only PPL branch open on Sunday afternoons (1–5 p.m.); holds lockers available 24/7 for contactless pickup
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Burton Barr cardholders can stream, download, and research free through the Greater Phoenix Digital Library and Arizona's statewide collections:
📚 Services
- Free public computers, Wi-Fi & mobile printing
- Wi-Fi hotspot lending for at-home internet access
- EV charging stations in the north parking lot
- 24/7 outdoor holds lockers for contactless pickup
- Assistive technology center: JAWS, ZoomText, Kurzweil, Braille embosser, Topaz magnifiers, ASL Sorenson videophone
- Arizona Room (2nd floor): Southwestern heritage reference collection
- Rare Book Room (4th floor): 3,400 curated items
- Federal Depository Library: Government Documents collection (5th floor)
- College Depot: free college-planning center with one-on-one advisor appointments
- Large-print, Braille & international-language materials
- Blood pressure kit checkout
- Ask Us reference service (in-person, phone & online)
🎸 Programs
- MACH1 Makerspace classes: 3D modeling & printing, laser cutting, robotics, coding, sewing, music production
- Teen Central (4th floor, ages 12–18): workshops, gaming, movie screenings, study areas
- College Depot advising workshops: admissions, financial aid & scholarship sessions
- Children's Place (1st floor): story room, auditorium & outdoor garden
- Sit, Stay, Read: therapy-dog reading program for emerging readers
- Annual Summer Solstice Celebration (June 21) — free public event
- StartUpPHX entrepreneurship resources
📍 Nearby Libraries in Phoenix
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Burton Barr, and why does Phoenix's central library carry his name?
Burton Barr (1917–1997) was a decorated WWII Army officer — earning two Silver Stars and a Bronze Star — who went on to represent Phoenix in the Arizona House for 22 years, serving as Republican Majority Leader from 1966 to 1986. When Phoenix's new central library opened in May 1995, it was known as the 'Phoenix Central Library.' After Barr's death in January 1997 the city renamed it in his honor, recognizing his decades of civic leadership.
What happens in the Great Reading Room on the summer solstice?
Architect Will Bruder engineered the fifth-floor skylights to project circles of sunlight directly down the building's north-south midline at solar noon on June 21 each year. This deliberate solar alignment — visible only on the summer solstice — draws on the astronomical awareness embedded in ancient Southwestern architecture. The library hosts a free annual public celebration of the event.
Is the MACH1 Makerspace really free, and what can I make there?
Yes — MACH1 on the 4th floor is entirely free with a valid Phoenix Public Library card. Equipment includes 3D printers, laser cutters, robotics kits, sewing machines, music production stations, and photo and video editing workstations. Hands-on classes are offered throughout the week for children, teens, and adults.
When is Burton Barr Central Library open, and is it open on Sundays?
The library is open Monday, Friday, and Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9 a.m.–7 p.m.; and Sunday 1–5 p.m. It is the only branch in the Phoenix Public Library system open on Sunday afternoons. The 24/7 outdoor holds lockers are accessible any time for contactless pickup.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
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