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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," DETAILS ON A WHITE HOUSE EXECUTIVE ORDER IMPOSING A $100,000 FEE FOR VISAS GRANTED TO SKILLED FOREIGN WORKERS.

ALSO TONIGHT, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT AN EFFORT TO SHOW THE CHALLENGES FACING THOSE WHO CAN'T OR DON'T DRIVE.

>>> AND A LOOK AT PERKS AND BENEFITS ONE CAN HAVE WITH A LIBRARY CARD?

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP LAST WEEK ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT CALLS FOR A $100,000 FEE FOR VISAS GRANTED TO SKILLED FOREIGN WORKERS.

THE WHITE HOUSE CLAIMED THAT EMPLOYERS ARE USING THE H-1B VISA PROGRAM TO EMPLOYEE CHEAPER FOREIGN EMPLOYEES.

JOINING US IS ELIZABETH CHATHAM.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THIS ADDS $100,000 FEE FOR SKILLED FOREIGN WORKER VISAS.

WHAT'S A SKILLED FOREIGN WORKER AS OPPOSED TO A NONSKILLED FOREIGN WORKER?

>> WELL, THE H-1B VISA IS MEANT FOR PEOPLE WITH BACHELOR'S DEGREES OR HIGHER.

ENTRY LEVEL WOULD REQUIRE SPECIALIZED THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE, SO YOU SEE A LOT OF FOREIGN GRADUATES THAT GO TO OUR AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES AND THEN THEY TRANSITION FROM A STUDENT VISA USUALLY TO AN H-1B VISA.

TED: INTERESTING.

THIS $100,000 FEE, WHO PAYS IT?

>> I KNOW.

IT'S A BIG AMOUNT OF MONEY.

IT'S UNCLEAR.

MOST ATTORNEYS DO THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXPECTATION THAT AN EMPLOYER PAYS, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THERE MIGHT BE A MECHANISM FOR THE EMPLOYEE TO PAY.

BUT THE $100,000 FEE IS VERY NARROW IN SCOPE.

THE FEE IS ONLY GOING TO BE TRIGGERED IF SOMEONE IS PHYSICALLY OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT H-1B WAS SUBMITTED AFTER NOVEMBER 21, 2025, AND THAT PERSON DOES NOT HAVE A VALID H-1B VISA OR APPROVAL NOTICE.

IT'S REALLY MEANT FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES.

TED: I IMAGINE A LOT OF EMPLOYERS ARE TELLING EMPLOYEES GET BACK TO THE U.S.

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE?

>> YES, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF CONFUSION THIS WEEKEND WHAT TO DO IF PEOPLE ARE ALREADY ABROAD?

SO THE WHITE HOUSE DID CLARIFY, ALONG WITH CUSTOMS AND BORDER AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROCLAMATION IS PROSPECTIVE, SO ANYBODY HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD AN APPROVED H-1B, THEY ARE NOT IMPACTED.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TRIGGER THE $100,000 FEE.

TED: INTERESTING, IS IT A ONE-TIME FEE?

>> CORRECT.

IT'S ONE-TIME, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EVERY YEAR AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED, AND IT WOULD BE REQUIRED AND DOCUMENTED IN ORDER FOR THAT PERSON TO RE-ENTER THE UNITED STATES.

TED: OKAY, SO THE FOCUS HERE IS, AGAIN, HARD TO FIND, HIGH-SKILLED JOBS.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THAT THE PROGRAM, THOUGH, IT IS DELIBERATELY EXPLOITING ALL OF THIS.

THEY CALL IT THE MOST ABUSED VISA PROGRAM.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> I DO.

I DO THINK THERE IS ABUSE OF THE H-1B PROGRAM.

IT'S NOTHING NEW, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

THE REASON I THINK THERE'S AN ABUSE OF THE PROGRAM IS BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE VISAS ARE VERY LIMITED.

THEY'RE LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF 85,000, AND THERE'S A GREATER DEMAND.

USUALLY THERE'S 300, 400, 500,000 APPLICANTS COMPETING FOR THE 85,000, SO THERE IS GOING TO BE WAYS THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GAME THE SYSTEM.

SO THE COMPLAINT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS IS THAT BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY 85,000, THERE'S A LARGE NUMBER THAT'S BEING ABSORBED BY VERY FEW COMPANIES.

MANY OF THE COMPANIES THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE IN THE I.T.

SECTOR, AND SOMETIMES THE I.T.

SECTOR HAS STAFFING COMPANIES, SO LARGE STAFFING COMPANIES THAT WILL FIND LABOR FROM ABROAD, AND THEN THEY'LL BRING THOSE PEOPLE OVER TO THE U.S., BUT THEY'RE NOT JUST APPLYING FOR 5, 10, 25 VISAS, THEY'RE APPLYING FOR HUNDREDS OR MAYBE THOUSANDS OF VISAS.

SO THE ABUSE IS THAT THEY MIGHT GET A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THOSE APPLICATIONS IN THE LOTTERY, BUT THEN ARE THEY BEING ASSIGNED JOBS TO U.S.

EMPLOYERS?

ARE THEY DOING THOSE TASKS THAT WERE STATED IN THE APPLICATION?

ARE THEY HERE FOR THE RIGHT AMOUNT TIME?

ARE THEY OVERSTAYING?

SO THERE'S A PREFERENCE THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS THAT SAYS, WELL, AMERICAN BUSINESSES SHOULD TRY TO FILL THOSE OPEN SPOTS WITH AMERICAN WORKERS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE ENTRY LEVEL ROLES.

TED: ARE THEY NOT FILLING THOSE SPOTS WITH AMERICAN WORKS BECAUSE YOU CAN GET -- AS THE WHITE HOUSE CLAIMS -- CHEAPER WORKERS OVERSEAS AND THEY'RE BASICALLY REPLACING AMERICAN EMPLOYEES?

>> THAT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN UNDER THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PREVAILING WAGE REQUIREMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PAY THOSE WAGES.

IF THEY'RE PAYING LESS THAN THAT, THEN THERE IS A DISCONNECT AND THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT IN COMPLIANCE.

TED: WHEN THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THAT BASICALLY THIS WILL COST SO MUCH, THE COMPANIES ALLOWED TO PAY SO MUCH, IT WILL BE CHEAPER, MORE AFFORDABLE, JUST TRAIN AMERICAN WORKERS.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ENSURE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THIS PARTICULAR PROCLAMATION IS WRITTEN, IT'S VERY BROAD, SO IT'S GOING TO AFFECT SMALL EMPLOYERS, MAYBE EVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY $100,000 FEE.

SO NOW THERE'S EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYERS TO QUALIFY IN ORDER NOT TO PAY THAT $100,000 FEE.

TED: WOW, THE H-1B PROGRAM, CLAIMS ARE THIS PROGRAM SUPPRESSED WAGES, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE I CAN SEE THAT THERE'S A DELICATE DANCE THAT EMPLOYERS HAVE TO KIND OF EXAMINE, SO THEY WANT TO PAY PROPER WAGES THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SAYS IS APPROPRIATE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S BUSINESS-RELATED FACTORS THAT ALSO KIND OF AFFECT WHAT AN EMPLOYER CAN PAY, SO WE ALWAYS TELL EMPLOYERS UP-FRONT, BEFORE WE FILE A CASE, THESE ARE THE WAGES, CAN YOU PAY THEM?

IF YOU CAN'T, DON'T SPONSOR.

TED: INTERESTING.

AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO GET THE CLAIMS IN ORDER.

SO MANY CLAIMS AS FAR AS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS CONCERNED.

ANOTHER CLAIM WAS BASICALLY THE H-1B PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO FILL SHORTAGES.

IT IS NOT DOING THAT ANYMORE.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT.

THE H-1B PROGRAM HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE EARLY 80s, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN REVAMPED.

SO WHAT OUR ECONOMY NEEDED IN THE 80s IS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT OUR ECONOMY AND BUSINESSES NEED NOW.

WE NEED A MUCH MORE LONG-TERM, BIGGER, BROADER, TOTALLY DIFFERENT VISA THAT ALLOWS FOR EMPLOYERS TO UTILIZE SKILLED LABOR OR INCREASE THE NUMBER FROM 85,000 TO .

>> THERE'S A NUMBER OF LAWSUITS PLANNED TO FILE THIS WEEK.

THERE MIGHT BE A GOOD SUCCESS STORY BECAUSE IN THESE CLAIMS THESE ARE BROAD, ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS SORT OF APPLICATIONS, AND IF THERE IS REALLY A CONCERN OF I.T.

COMPANIES ABUSING THE PROGRAM, THEN THOSE COMPANIES SHOULD BE THE ONES PAYING THIS $100,000 FEE.

TED: LAST QUESTION, IT IS NOTED MOST OF THE IMMIGRANTS WITH THE H-1B PROGRAM ARE FROM THE COUNTRY OF INDIA, AND THE PRESIDENT RIGHT NOW IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE COUNTRY OF INDIA.

IS THAT A FACTOR HERE AT ALL?

>> I THINK THERE IS SOME COMPLICATIONS WITH FOREIGN TALENT, ESPECIALLY FROM CERTAINLY COUNTRIES THAT ARE PREDOMINANTLY IN SECTORS, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S PERHAPS A PREFERENCE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT THIS COULD BE MORE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED WHERE THE H-1B AND OTHER VISA PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, AND THEY ARE LEGALLY.

ANYONE FROM ANY COUNTRY, AS LONG AS THEY QUALIFY, IS AVAILABLE FOR THE H-1B, BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF CHINESE AND INDIAN NATIONALS THAT ARE -- THAT USE THE H-1B PROGRAM.

TED: INTERESTING.

INTERESTING STUFF.

ELIZABETH CHATHAM, HELPING WITH ANOTHER IMMIGRATION STORY, MY GOODNESS, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.

.

TED: NEXT WEEK MARKS DAY ONE OF A WEEK LONG EFFORT TO GET PEOPLE WHO CAN DRIVE OR AFFORD A CAR TO EXPERIENCE WHAT LIFE IS LIKE WITHOUT PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION?

THE EFFORT IS CALLED A WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING, AND WE LEARN MORE FROM ED HERMES, CHAIRMAN OF THE VISION ZERO STREET SAFETY COMMITTEE, BEHIND THE PRODUCT.

ED, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

TED: HOW DID YOU GET HERE?

BIKE OVER HERE?

>> I DID BIKE OVER HERE.

TED: YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE WITHOUT DRIVING?

>> I DO.

I WANT TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE ON THE STREETS TO MAKE THE CITY BETTER.

TED: SO WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING.

GIVE US A BETTER EXPLANATION WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHY IT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> ABOUT A THIRD OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A CAR, YOUNGER, OLDER, DISABLED, CAN'T AFFORD GAS OR A CAR, OR RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT, WALKING, BIKING THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, THIS IS AN EFFORT, A NATIONAL EFFORT, AND HERE IN ARIZONA WE'RE TAKING PART IN THAT TO GET PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCESS TO A CAR, WHO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SHOO THE CAR FOR A WEEK, SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WALK ALMOST LITERALLY IN THEIR SHOES TO SEE WHERE THE BARRIERS ARE HOW WE CAN MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER, MORE CONNECTED TO THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD A CAR.

TED: SEPTEMBER 29 TO OCTOBER 5, WAS THAT WEEK CHOSE NEN PARTICULAR OR THE NATIONAL WEEK?

>> THAT'S THE NATIONAL WEEK, STARTED IN WASHINGTON BY THE NATIONAL DISABILITY RIGHTS CENTER, AND THE ORGANIZATION THAT LAUNCHES IT NATIONALLY.

CAN YOU CHECK OUT MORE AT AMERICA WALKS.ORG AND THAT'S THE NATIONAL WEEK WE'RE PARTAKING IN ARIZONA.

TED: PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, YOUNG DRIVERS.

SENIORS, THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD OR DON'T WANT TO DRIVE CARS, WE'RE ALL SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER THAT THEY'RE OUT THERE, HUH?

>> THEY'RE OUT THERE.

WE HAVE 40,000 FAMILIES HERE IN PHOENIX THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A VEHICLE, AND THEY HAVE SPECIAL UNIQUE CHALLENGES, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IN THIS CITY, AND WE NEED TO MAKE IT SAFER, EASIER FOR EVERYONE TO GET AROUND, WHETHER YOU CAN AFFORD A CAR, HAVE ACCESS TO A CAR OR NOT.

TED: WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES, BARRIERS?

>> SAFETY IS A BIG ONE.

WE KNOW IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX, WE HAVE THE NUMBER ONE AMOUNT OF CAR CRASHES.

NUMBER ONE AMOUNT DEADLY CAR CRASHES OF EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE ABOUT 300 A YEAR.

MANY MORE THAN THAT PEOPLE GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED.

SAFETY IS A BIG ONE.

ACCESS TO QUALITY AND RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSIT IS ANOTHER ONE, BUT WE WANT PEOPLE TO GET OUT NEXT WEEK DURING A WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING.

DOCUMENT YOUR OWN CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAVE.

IF YOU ARE TRYING GET TO WORK, HOW WAS IT?

WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN TO MAKE IT EASIER TO GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO?

TED: HOW DOES THIS WORK?

DO YOU KEEP A DIARY, YOU MENTIONED DOCUMENT, IS THERE A WAY TO FILL THINGS OUT?

>> SHARE THE STORY AT AMERICA WALKS.ORG AND PHOENIX URBAN PROJECT, SHARE YOUR STORIES, SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THERE'S A PLACE ON THE WEBSITE TO DO THAT, AND ALSO TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP TO ADVOCATE TO YOUR STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO SAY, HEY, I WAS TRYING TO TAKE THE BUS TO WORK, IT WASN'T WORKING VERY WELL OR WANTED TO COME MORE OFTEN, OR THE SIDEWALK ENDED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHY IS THAT?

START ASKING THE QUESTIONS AND ADVOCATE FOR THE CHANGES TO MAKE IT EASIER.

TED: AND THIS IS ALL TRANSPORTATION.

24/7?

WHAT ABOUT LATE AT NIGHT?

NERVOUS GETAG PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION LATE AT NIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE LIGHT RAIL USED TO RUN UNTIL 2:00 A.M., IT DOESN'T ANYMORE.

IF YOU WORK LATE, THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE, ANOTHER DIFFICULTY.

WE KNOW FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHALLENGES DOING THIS, RIGHT?

IF THERE'S A MOMENT DURING THE WEEK YOU CAN'T GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO WITHOUT CALLING AN UBER OR GETTING IN THE CAR, DOCUMENT THAT AS WELL, LOOK, IT WAS MIDNIGHT, NOTHING WAS RUNNING.

DOCUMENT THAT AND SHARE THE STORIES.

>> YOU MENTIONED CALLING AN UBER.

WHAT ABOUT PAYING FOR RIDES?

ASKING FOR SOMEONE TO DRIVE YOU SOMEWHERE?

DOES THAT COUNT AS NOT DRIVING?

>> ASKING FOR SOMEBODY TO GIVE YOU A RIDE DOES COUNT.

THAT'S A PIECE OF THIS.

AS LONG AS YOU ARE CHANGING YOUR BEHAVIOR TO WALK IN THE SHOES OF SOMEONE WHO CAN'T AFFORD OR HAVE ACCESS TO A CAR, THAT WORKS.

TALKING TO A NEIGHBOR, CARPOOLING, THAT ABSOLUTELY WORKS.

IF YOU CAN'T GET TO SOMEWHERE, DON'T CONSIDER YOURSELF A FAILURE, DOCUMENT THAT AND FIX IT.

TED: THE GOAL IS TO REFLECT AND WHAT THE OTHER FOLKS ARE DEALING WITH?

>> REFLECT, EXPERIENCE IT.

REFLECT.

IF IT'S HOT, UNCOMFORTABLE, REFLECT ON THAT AND HOW CAN WE MAKE IT BETTER?

IS IT MORE SMAD AT THE BUS STOP?

BUSES RUNNING MORE QUICKLY.

REFLECT ON THAT TO THE POWERS THAT CAN FIX THIS.

TED: HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN GOING ON?

>> SINCE 2021 WITH THE WASHINGTON RIGHTS CENTER AND GROWING EVERY YEAR.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST YEAR DOING IT IN ARIZONA AND WANT TO CONTINUE DOING IT EVERY YEAR.

TED: LAST QUESTION, WHAT HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN SMALL.

IT STARTED AS A KERNEL IN PHOENIX, NATIONWIDE IT'S GROWN MORE QUICKLY.

HERE IN ARIZONA, LAST YEAR WE DID IT, VERY SMALL.

THIS YEAR, WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT MUCH BIGGER AND TO GROW IT EVERY SINGLE YEAR TO MAKE THE CHANGES IN THE COMMUNITY.

TED: WHERE TO LEARN MORE?

>> URBAN PHOENIX PROJECT.ORG AND AMERICA WALKS.ORG.

SIGN UP, GET RESOURCES, LEARN MORE ABOUT IT AND SHARE STORIES AND DOCUMENT THE STORIES.

TED: ED HERMES, VISION ZERO STREET SAFETY COMMITTEE ON WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING, OH, BOY.

>> I HOPE YOU JOIN US, TED, NEXT WEEK.

TED: WATCH OUT FOR ME.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> APPRECIATE IT, TED.

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TED: SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL LIBRARY CARD MONTH, AND THE PHOENIX PUBLIC LIBRARY IS TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THE PERKS AND BENEFITS OF WHAT COMES WITH OWNING A LIBRARY CARD.

WE SAT DOWN WITH LEE FRANKLIN FOR MORE ON ALL THAT CAN BE ACCESSED WITH ONE OF THE LIBRARY'S CARDS.

LEE FRANKLIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

TED: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.

YOU KNOW I LOVE COMING.

TED: SEPTEMBER, WE LOVE YOU HERE, SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL LIBRARY CARD MONTH.

I THOUGHT EVERY MONTH WAS NATIONAL LIBRARY CARD MONTH?

>> YOU KNOW I FEEL EVERY DAY IS NATIONAL GET YOUR LIBRARY CARD DAY, BUT FOR SURE, THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER IS THE NATIONAL SIGN UP FOR YOUR LIBRARY CARD MONTH, AND PHOENIX PUBLIC LIBRARY, EVERY YEAR WE DO OUR AMAZING LIBRARY CARD CAMPAIGN FOR SURE IN SEPTEMBER OFTEN INTO OCTOBER.

TED: THE IDEA IS TO SHOW WHAT A LIBRARY CARD CAN DO FOR YOU?

>> RIGHT, HOW AMAZING IT IS.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO START WITH US.

HAVE AN IDEA.

WANT TO EXPLORE IT.

NEED TO MAKE A DECISION.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO.

GET YOUR LIBRARY CARD.

START WITH US.

TED: WHAT DOES A LIBRARY CARD DO?

WHEN THEY START WITH YOU, WHERE DO THEY GO FROM THERE?

>> VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PHOENIX PUBLIC LIBRARY.ORG FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME, GET STARTED WITH YOUR ECARD AND FILL OUT INFORMATION, IT VERIFIES YOU'RE A RESIDENT OF MARICOPA COUNTY, OUR CARDS ARE FREE FOR MARICOPA COUNTY RESIDENTS.

WITHIN A FEW MINUTES YOU'LL HAVE ACCESS TO THOUSANDS OF ITEMS TO READ, YOU CAN STREAM MUSIC, YOU CAN STREAM MOVIES, YOU CAN HAVE ACCESS TO NEWSPAPERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

CLASSES ONLINE, ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

TED: SO BOOKS, AUDIO BOOKS, THINGS YOU EXPECT AT A LIBRARY.

HAS THAT CHANGED?

ARE TRADITIONAL BOOKS SITTING AROUND GOING HEY, WE'RE OVER HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

PEOPLE ARE STILL -- OUR COLLECTION IS MOVING TOWARDS BEING LARGER AS AN -- THE E PORTION OF IT, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT MORE OPTION BUT ALSO HIGH DEMAND, BUT WE SEE OUR TRADITIONAL BOOKS, TAKE SOMETHING OFF THE SHELF, WE'LL WANT THAT EXPERIENCE AS WELL, SO THEY ARE EQUALLY AS POPULAR, AND THEY ARE NOT GOING AWAY.

THEY WANT TO ASSURE EVERYBODY.

WE ARE NOT GETTING OUT OF THE BUSINESS OF ACTUAL PHYSICAL BOOKS.

TED: LIBRARY CARDS THEMSELVES, ARE THEY TRANSFERRABLE?

>> NOT -- NO, NOT IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

NOT AT THIS TIME.

NOT RIGHT NOW.

BUT GETTING -- ANYBODY WHO'S A RESIDENT OF MARICOPA COUNTY CAN GET A LIBRARY CARD AT ALMOST ANY OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES WITHIN THE COUNTY, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN SCOTTSDALE TO GET -- THEY MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT RULE BUS FOR PHOENIX, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF MARICOPA COUNTY AND YOU CAN GET MORE THAN ONE.

WE HAVE AN INTERLIBRARY LOAN PROGRAM WHERE WE WILL BORROW ON YOUR BEHALF FROM ANOTHER LIBRARY SYSTEM.

TED: YOU'VE ALSO GOT A CULTURE PASS.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> CULTURE PASSES ARE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH ACT 1, AND THOSE ARE THE PHOENIX PUBLIC LIBRARY CARD AND ALL THE LIBRARIES IN THE COUNTY OFFER THIS PROGRAM, CAN GO IN AND CHECK OUT ADMISSION TO CULTURAL AND ART INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

TED: SO FREE ENTRANCE TO MUSEUMS AND THINGS?

>> YES, TWO FREE ADMISSIONS, SO MAYBE CAN'T GET A WHOLE FAMILY OF FOUR OR FIVE IN, BUT CAN DEFINITELY GO TOWARDS MAKING THAT ADMISSION MORE AFFORDABLE BY HAVING TWO FREE ADMISSIONS.

TED: AND ALSO PLACES LIKE ARCOSANTI, DESERT BOTANICAL MUSEUM AND LOWELL OBSERVATORY?

>> YES, SOME OF THEM COME ON THE LIST, OFF THE LIST, DEPENDING WHAT THE SEASONS ARE LIKE, CHECK PHOENIX PUBLIC LIBRARY.ORG, WE HAVE A CULTURE PASS PAGE WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE'RE OFFERING AND WHICH SPECIFIC PERFORMANCES WITH THE PHOENIX OPERA WHEN THEY HAVE PERFORMANCE SEASON.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, LAST QUESTION HERE, WE TALKED ABOUT BOOKS AREN'T BEING NEGLECTED HERE.

WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR PART OF PHOENIX PUBLIC LIBRARYS?

>> OH, I WOULD SAY TWO THINGS.

ONE IS WE LITERALLY HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

SO WE'RE A PLACE THAT IS FOR EVERYONE, AND WHAT WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF IS HOW MUCH PEOPLE APPRECIATE OUR SPACES.

THEY LOVE THAT THEY CAN COME TO A LIBRARY, ANYBODY CAN COME IN, THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE ACCEPTED.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN JUST BE?

WE'RE ONE OF THE LAST PARTS OF THE SOCIETY OR COMMUNITY WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND MONEY, YOU CAN COME IN, SPEND THE TIME, JUST SPEND THE DAY WITH US SITTING IN A COMFY CHAIR READING SOMETHING OR USING OUR WI-FI OR GETTING ON A PUBLIC COMPUTER OR TALKING WITH -- IT'S A COMMUNITY CONNECTION, AND WE'RE FINDING THAT THAT IS REALLY THE HEART OF WHAT PEOPLE FIND SO BELOVED ABOUT THE LIBRARY, AND THEN WE HELP SOLVE WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU'RE FACING.

TED: BUT YOU GOT TO BE KIND OF QUIET, DON'T YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I KNOW I HAVE A LOUD, BOOMING VOICE, I'M A LITTLE RHASPY TODAY, BUT LIBRARIES ARE NOT NECESSARILY A SHOOSHING SPACE ANY LONGER.

WE HAVE DESIGNATED SPACES THAT ARE MORE QUIET.

THEY CAN BE RAUCOUS AND ADVENTUROUS AND CAN BE FUN.

TED: A BRAVE NEW WORLD IN THE LIBRARY.

>> STARTS WITH US.

AN IDEA YOU HAVE, LOOKING TO MAKE A DECISION, LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO, AND WE'RE FREE.

TED: LEE FRANKLIN, NATIONAL LIBRARY CARD MONTH.

>> IT'S EVERY DAY, REALLY, BUT, YES FOR SURE, TAKE ADVANTAGE, SEE US IN SEPTEMBER.

TED: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU.

TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.