Hildale, Colorado City share new library per interlocal agreement; opening date set

The former Steed Sunday School building is being transformed into a new library for Hildale and Colorado City residents, Hildale, Utah, photo undated | Photo courtesy of Joel Tucker, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – Residents of Colorado City, Arizona, will be able to use the new Hildale library thanks to an interlocal agreement between Washington County and Mohave County, Arizona. The new library is expected to open Nov. 18.

The former Steed Sunday School building is being transformed into a new library for Hildale and Colorado City residents, Hildale, Utah, photo undated | Photo courtesy of Joel Tucker, St. George News
The former Steed Sunday School building is being transformed into a new library for Hildale and Colorado City residents, Hildale, Utah, photo undated | Photo courtesy of Joel Tucker, St. George News

Rather than having Arizona residents pay nonresident fees to use the library, county officials came to an agreement for communities in the area to share the facility and services.

“We had a lot of people from Colorado City that are interested in using the library facilities,” Joel Tucker, director of the Washington County Library System, said.

Under the agreement, Mohave County will pay $10,000 per year to Washington County.

Colorado City and the neighboring small communities are currently served by a bookmobile, Tucker said, which Hildale residents were also using.

The former Steed Sunday School building is being transformed into a new library for Hildale and Colorado City residents, Hildale, Utah, photo undated | Photo courtesy of Joel Tucker, St. George News
The former Steed Sunday School building is being transformed into a new library for Hildale and Colorado City residents, Hildale, Utah, photo undated | Photo courtesy of Joel Tucker, St. George News

However, the nearest Mohave County library facility is located in Kingman, Arizona, so the bookmobile had to be driven through Las Vegas and St. George to get to Colorado City.

“It’s quite the drive,” Tucker said. “They said that it will probably save them $5,000 a year in just not having to do the bookmobile anymore, so that gave them some money to play with.”

The agreement was reached at a Sept. 6 Washington County Commission meeting and will allow residents of Colorado City and neighboring Arizona communities to use the new library.

The former Steed Sunday School building is being transformed into a new library for Hildale and Colorado City residents, Hildale, Utah, photo undated | Photo courtesy of Joel Tucker, St. George News
The former Steed Sunday School building is being transformed into a new library for Hildale and Colorado City residents, Hildale, Utah, photo undated | Photo courtesy of Joel Tucker, St. George News

“I think this is a good agreement,” Commissioner Victor Iverson said. “Actually it’s one that reflects reality.”

Residents of Hildale currently have to travel 24 miles to Hurricane to reach a Washington County library.

The County Commission approved the purchase of the Steed Sunday School building, located at 440 East Newel Avenue in Hildale, for $230,000 in April.

The property was purchased from the United Effort Plan Trust.


Read more: New public library in Hildale closer to reality; county approves building purchase


“Our goal as a library is to provide education, information and entertainment resources for all of Washington County,” Tucker said.

“I feel like the new Hildale library will serve those we have struggled to reach in that corner of the county and benefit the community as a neutral gathering place for people of all backgrounds.”

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