15Oct, 2016
    Friends Sponsors Four Library Fellowships

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library helped make four key Library programs a reality by facilitating four fellowships through the Experience Matters program.

    Each of the Fellows will work on special Library programming through financial support of Intel. Since 2011, Intel has placed and funded 60 former employees yearly in positions with non-profit groups that may utilize their experience in fields like engineering and project management.

    For the Library, here are the four programs funded for 2016-2017:

    • Justin Bingham will serve as Project Developer for Story Stroll. Story Stroll is an opportunity for families to read a children’s book, page by page, as they walk through parks and other outdoor areas. This is a year-long fellowship.
    • Arnie Dominguez will serve as Project Developer for the Ultimate Play Date. This annual event in March brings together children ages 0-8 to experience learning at different Play Zones like adventure, music & dance and science & technology. The 2017 Ultimate Play Date will take place March 4. This is a six-month fellowship.
    • Jim Nance will serve as Builder for the Books2Go Program. Books2Go is a series of micro-libraries in City of Scottsdale parks filled with free books for the public in a “take one, leave one” style system. This is a year-long fellowship.
    • Jim Willittes will serve as Coordinator for the STEAM Program. Short for science, technology, engineering, art and math, the STEAM Program will be a series of events designed to educate children in these important fields. This is a year-long fellowship.

    The Friends coordinated all the paperwork for these fellowships and is serving as the operations agency on behalf of the Library.

    1Oct, 2016
    Friends Contributes to Scottsdale Children’s Learning & Play Festival

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library donated $12,500 toward the Scottsdale Children’s Learning & Play Festival, held October 1 at WestWorld.

    Marc Brown drawing
    Author Marc Brown draws Arthur the Aardvark for a Festival attendee

    The event welcomed over 12,000 children and their families to enjoy author presentations, kids activities and musical performances. The headliner was Marc Brown, author of the Arthur the Aardvark book series that was adapted into a PBS children’s show. Brown held two presentations for the children, then signed autographs.

    The Friends paid the speaker fees and travel expenses for the authors in attendance, contributing thousands of additional dollars to the event. While this was the first time the Festival was put on, it was considered a success and will hopefully become a yearly tradition.