Title
Phoenix Public Library MAX Collection Sharing Service - Citywide
Description
This report provides the Community Services and Education Subcommittee with information about Phoenix Public Library's (PPL) recently launched Maximum Library Access (MAX) collection sharing service.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
Launched in 2022 and managed by Maricopa County Library District (MCLD), MAX is a book sharing service for customers of participating library systems offering library customers the ability to place holds on and check out items from other participating library systems using their respective library system account.
MAX offers Phoenix Public Library customers the ability to search another participating library system for items not currently available in PPL's collection by following the “Find From MAX” link. If another library system has the item available, the Phoenix Public Library customer can check the item out using their PPL account. Once checked out, the item will be delivered to their preferred Phoenix Public Library location. When the item is due, the customer returns it to their preferred Phoenix Public Library location and it is then returned to its original library system. Customers can request up to five items at one time, books borrowed through MAX are not eligible for renewal, and lost and/or damaged items will result in a $20 fee.
Currently, 15 library systems throughout Maricopa County participating in MAX include Avondale, Buckeye, Chandler, Desert Foothills, Glendale, Maricopa County, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise, Tempe, Tolleson, Wickenburg, and Youngtown library systems. Since Phoenix Public Library officially began participating in December 2025, over 2,000 items have been checked out through Phoenix Public Library's offering of MAX.
Participating in MAX means that Phoenix Public Library cardholders now have direct access to books from every public library system in Maricopa County, more than 867,000 additional books.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Library Department.