Desert Broom Library
🏢 Phoenix Public Library · Tatum Ranch, Phoenix, Arizona
Desert Broom Library
An award-winning LEED Silver landmark rising from the Sonoran Desert, Desert Broom Library brings the Tatum Ranch neighborhood of northeast Phoenix a sun-drenched space for reading, learning, and connection — its signature roof extending 60 feet over an adjacent arroyo the way a desert nurse plant shelters a young saguaro.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–6pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 29710 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85331
Phone: (602) 262-4636
Website: phoenixpubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 855CQ235+Q3 (Phoenix, AZ)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Desert Broom Library
Desert Broom Library opened in February 2005 as part of the Phoenix Public Library system, serving the Tatum Ranch neighborhood in far northeast Phoenix. Designed by Richärd + Bauer Architecture, the LEED Silver–certified building draws its form from Sonoran Desert ecology: a sweeping roof extends 60 feet over an adjacent arroyo into natural desert, creating a shaded microclimate modeled on the relationship between nurse trees and the young saguaro cacti that shelter beneath them. At 15,000 square feet — engineered for future expansion to 25,000 sq ft and a 100,000-volume collection — the building has earned six major design honors, including the 2006 AIA/ALA Library Building Award and the ALA/IIDA Award for Innovation in Sustainable Design. A 60-seat multipurpose room, computer training lab, and dedicated youth and teen spaces make Desert Broom a full community hub for north Phoenix families, and 24/7 holds lockers and EV charging in the parking lot round out its services.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened February 2005; LEED Silver certified — one of Phoenix's first green-certified public buildings; 6 major design awards including the 2006 AIA/ALA Library Building Award
- Dramatic 60-foot roof extension over an adjacent arroyo — designed by Richärd + Bauer Architecture to echo the Sonoran Desert nurse-plant relationship
- 15,000 sq ft engineered for future expansion to 25,000 sq ft and a 100,000-volume collection
- 24/7 outdoor holds lockers for contactless material pickup and EV charging in the west parking lot
- Sit, Stay, Read program: children practice reading aloud to trained therapy dogs
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Desert Broom cardholders can stream, download, and research free through the Greater Phoenix Digital Library and Arizona's statewide collections:
📚 Services
- Public computers with internet access and free Wi-Fi throughout
- Wi-Fi hotspot lending for at-home internet access
- Mobile printing, photocopying & scanning
- 24/7 outdoor holds lockers for contactless pickup
- EV charging stations (west parking lot)
- 60-seat multipurpose meeting room — reservable online
- Computer training lab
- Dedicated youth and teen spaces
- Accessible parking (south of pedestrian bridge) and accessible workstation
- Periodicals reading room
- Library card services (free to Maricopa County residents)
🎸 Programs
- Sit, Stay, Read — children practice reading aloud to trained therapy dogs
- Youth programs and storytime (see calendar.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/calendar/desertbroom)
- Teen programming and teen-only space
- Community and nonprofit meetings in the 60-seat multipurpose room
- Computer and digital literacy classes in the on-site training lab
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northeast Phoenix & Scottsdale
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What inspired Desert Broom Library's distinctive architectural design?
Richärd + Bauer Architecture designed the building to reflect the ecology of the surrounding Sonoran Desert. A dramatic roof extends 60 feet over an adjacent arroyo into natural desert, creating a shaded microclimate — an architectural reference to the nurse-plant relationship in which a desert shrub or tree shelters young saguaro cacti from heat and sun. The design earned the 2006 AIA/ALA Library Building Award and five other major honors.
Can I pick up my holds outside of library hours?
Yes. Desert Broom Library has outdoor holds lockers accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for contactless material pickup. Once your hold is ready, you will receive a notification and can collect your items at any time — even on Sundays when the library is closed.
Is there EV charging at Desert Broom Library?
Yes, electric vehicle charging is available in the public parking lot on the west side of the building. All accessible parking is also on the west side, south of the pedestrian bridge leading to the main entrance.
What digital resources come free with a Phoenix Public Library card?
A free PPL card (available to all Maricopa County residents) unlocks the Greater Phoenix Digital Library via Libby for eBooks and audiobooks, hoopla for instant streaming of movies, music, and comics with no waitlist, Kanopy for films, Freegal for music downloads, and PressReader for newspapers and magazines. Arizona residents can also access the Digital Arizona Library (DAZL) at azlibrary.gov/dazl — including Reading Arizona eBooks and audiobooks, Arizona Maps Online, and additional reference databases.
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.