Safe Spaces During Summer Heat
Phoenix Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
Every year, the City of Phoenix puts into action a Heat Response Plan to tackle the serious health issues caused by extreme heat. For over ten years, the 17 branches of the Phoenix Public Library have been identified as Cooling Centers during normal hours of operation. With record-breaking high temperatures over the past two summers, the City of Phoenix began managing these efforts with a Heat Ready Unified Command Team, which included the fellow City departments, the Library and numerous community organizations. During the summer of 2024, the role of Phoenix Public Library was expanded to provide extended hour Cooling Center services in the lobbies of three library locations. Building on the experiences from 2024, in 2025 these three libraries continued to operate as extended hours Cooling Centers, staying open until 10 p.m. every day, including holidays, and added offering full library services and crisis care navigation services provided by a community partner.
Challenge/Opportunity
The summer heat poses a significant public health challenge for the greater Phoenix area, with prolonged or frequent exposure to high temperatures resulting in serious physical and mental health issues for vulnerable populations. According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, heat-related illnesses and deaths have increased substantially since 2014. The past three summers recorded exceptionally high temperatures for extended periods. The City of Phoenix’s 2024 and 2025 Heat Response Plans introduced 12 new or significantly revised actions to enhance the heat response capacities. Notably, this includes extending hours of access to heat relief resources during late afternoons, evenings, and weekends to address gaps in availability. Given the role of the library as a versatile and valuable community resource, to address these gaps three Phoenix Public Library locations have been designated as facilities hospitable to community members seeking refuge from the heat.
Key Elements of Innovation
The 2025 Heat Response Plan integrated improvements from 2024, with specific updates for the library.
• The library is now a full member of the CoP Heat Ready Unified Command Team. Library leaders co-chair Resource Working Groups in the Incident Command System Model.
• Additional funding for 3 libraries to extend operating hours by 37 hours per week with full library services and act as Cooling Centers until 10 p.m. 7 days a week, including holidays, from May 1 to Sept. 30.
• A hiring fair was conducted on a Sunday, leading to the interview, job offers, and initial onboarding of 41 temporary Summer Heat Relief staff. By early Oct., 8 of these temporary hires transitioned into FT positions to fill existing vacancies.
• Social support and access to critical resources will continue year-round through a new library social services initiative. The library has employed a licensed social worker and launched a social worker intern program with the Arizona State University School of Social Work
Achieved Outcomes
In 2024, five new extended hour and overnight heat relief locations, including three libraries, averaged over 200 visits per day. They accumulated more than 35,000 visits throughout the heat season, providing significant public health benefits. These sites assisted over 5,000 unique individuals, with nearly 900 finding housing, shelter, or related services after visiting a Phoenix heat relief location. The success of these sites informed updates to the 2025 Heat Relief Response Plan. The three libraries again served as cooling centers, now offering full library services until 10 p.m., with Community Bridges, Inc. providing navigation services, improving community access. As of September 30, the official end of Phoenix's heat season, initial data shows more than 45,000 visits to one of the four sites (three of which were library facilities), an estimated 21% increase over summer 2024.
