City Librarian Toni Garvey recently was named Librarian of the Year 2004 by "Library Journal," a leading industry publication with nationwide distribution.

The journal honors professional librarians for outstanding achievement and accomplishments including free access to information, the enhancement and expansion of library services, strengthening the library's role in the community and the encouragement of reading through public programs.

Garvey oversees services and programs for the Phoenix Public Library system that includes 13 libraries, with one new branch under construction and another in the design phase.

During her seven-year tenure at Phoenix Public Library, circulation has increased by more than 100 percent, and visits to library facilities have grown by 26 percent.

According to the latest statistics released by the American Library Association, Phoenix libraries are open more hours per facility per week than almost any other system in the country serving one million people or more.

Under Garvey's guidance, the library is meeting diverse community needs, including programs, services and computer classes for Spanish-speaking patrons; spaces dedicated for teen use at several libraries; a state-of-the-art Special Needs Center at the Burton Barr Central Library; a major programming series celebrating the diversity in our community through author programs and family festivals; and a grant-funded oral history project that enlisted teens to interview Native American elders and turn their conversations about their lives into a student video production.

To better meet the community's ever-growing need for information, the library expanded its electronic services. The library's webpage, www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org, has been enhanced with special sections for services and informational resources for the business community, Spanish-speaking patrons (¡En Español!), teens and a section for children.

Community support for Phoenix Public Library has flourished under Garvey's leadership. A nonprofit library foundation was established to assist with fundraising, and the Friends of the Phoenix Public Library have developed widespread support for library programs.

Under Garvey's direction, Phoenix Public Library is a national leader in cultivating partnerships to encourage reading. READ YOUR WAY to the BALLPARK, a countywide summer reading program for children now in its fourth year, was developed under the direction of Garvey. Co-sponsored by The Arizona Republic/Season for Sharing and the Arizona Diamondbacks, nearly 95,000 children registered for the nine-week program in 2003. The library's winter reading program, which recently kicked off its second year, was made possible by a partnership with Casino Arizona at Salt River - an enterprise of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community.

Garvey, who has 25 years of experience as a library professional, has led the city's library system since 1996. In 2002, she became a city department director when the Phoenix Public Library Department, formerly a part of the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, was created.

After graduating from Western Michigan University with a masters degree in library science, Garvey began her career at the Tucson-Pima Public Library as a children's librarian. Prior to joining the city of Phoenix, she directed the Loudoun County Library system in Leesburg, VA.

Garvey has served on many boards, including the Urban Libraries Council, North America's largest public library organization, and Libraries for the Future. She also is a former president of the Public Library Association, the world's largest organization of public libraries and librarians.