3Jan, 2023
    Birdies for Charity is Back

    Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is once again participating in Birdies for Charity in partnership with the WM Phoenix Open and Thunderbirds Charities on February 6-12.

    Phoenix Open Golfer
    The popular 16th green at TPC Scottsdale generates many birdies every year

    This fundraiser works just like a walk-a-thon, except instead of pledging for every mile completed, you pledge a set amount (as low as $.01) for every birdie scored by a golfer at this year’s tournament.

    With over 1,300 expected birdies, putting in your two cents will still generate plenty of money for the Friends (1,500 birdies at a $.02 pledge would equal a $30 donation). You can also pledge a flat amount.

    This is one of our favorite fundraisers for the year, for a few reasons:

    1. All transaction fees (including credit card processing) are covered by Thunderbirds Charities, meaning whatever you donate is received in its entirety
    2. Thunderbirds Charities offers a 10 percent bonus if a charity receives at least $500, so we can receive extra money based on having more donors

    To participate in Birdies for Charity, visit tinyurl.com/splbirdies2023 and select “Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library” when prompted for your charity. All pledges must be received by 5pm on February 13.

    30Oct, 2022
    2022 Spirit of Literacy Award Winners Announced

    Please join us in congratulating the 2022 Spirit of Literacy Award (SOL) winners: Peggy Sharp Chamberlain, Phillip Payne, Mariko Whelan, and the Literary Society of the Southwest (LSSW). The awards will be presented on Saturday, November 5.

    Spirit of Literacy Awards
    Picture of most recent SOL Award plaques

    Since 2002, the SOL Awards recognize significant contributions to support libraries and literacy in Scottsdale by individuals, corporations, foundations, and other entities. The Friends Board of Directors selects the winners annually.

    Sharp Chamberlain was a six year member and former Chair of the Scottsdale Library Board. She also served three years on the Friends Board of Directors and re-launched its membership program, in addition to providing authors for children’s programs at the library.

    Payne is the owner and artist-in-residence at Anticus Fine Art Gallery/Independent Bookstore in Old Town Scottsdale. He hosts author presentations and book clubs, and has partnered with the Friends and LDV Winery on three art, book, and wine pairings during 2022.

    Whelan is the Early Learning, Youth & Teen Services Coordinator for Scottsdale Public Library. She is a published author who presents at conferences on early learning, and facilitates programs sponsored by the Friends such as Family Read Aloud Nights and Girls in STEM.

    LSSW provides grants to community organizations with literacy missions and hosts luncheons with author discussions. LSSW provided funding to the Friends for the SkyRoom renovation and FRAN program.

    For the first time, the 2022 SOL award presentations will be open to the public as they will be incorporated into the Scottsdale Library Cardholder Celebration on November 5 at Scottsdale Stadium. The awards will be presented at 6pm.

    4Oct, 2022
    Friends Funds Bilingual Dial-a-Story Program

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is now funding Scottsdale Public Library’s free Dial-a-Story program, where booklovers can hear a free children’s story in English or Spanish via telephone.

    Dial-a-Story

    To use the program, call (480) 787-0875, then press 1 for English, or 2 for Spanish. The available story rotates weekly, and includes popular titles like “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Ugly Duckling,” and “The Fox and the Rooster.”

    The company that provides the service has been in business for 25 years, and Scottsdale Public Library has offered the free program since 2021. To learn more about great free programs offered by the library, visit https://www.scottsdalelibrary.org.

    7Mar, 2022
    Friends Sponsors Read Aloud Nights with Title I Schools

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library donated $2,630 to support the Family Read Aloud Nights (FRAN) program with four Title I schools in 2022.

    FRAN Story Performance
    Scottsdale Public Library staff act out a story for students at Tonalea K-8 school

    The first FRAN event of the year took place March 3 at Tonalea K-8 school in South Scottsdale. It included 178 participants (children and parents) enjoying three stories brought to life through song and dance, costumes, and interaction. This was the largest FRAN crowd in four years.

    For these FRAN events, the library partners with a Title I school in Scottsdale, which are located in lower-income areas and provide additional programming to raise the achievement of these students. There are nine Title I schools located in Scottsdale, and the FRAN program rotates among them.

    Friends funding for FRAN pays for pizza and drinks for all participants, to ensure parents don’t need to cook a meal that night. Children also take home a free bag and book to encourage reading at home.

    The next FRAN event is scheduled for April 5 at Echo Canyon K-8. If you want to help the Friends support programs like FRAN, please consider becoming a Friends member.

    30Nov, 2021
    Friends Memberships to be Matched During December 2021

    Through the generous support of a Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library donor, all Friends memberships during December will be matched (up to $2,500) as an extra donation to the Friends.

    Friends memberships start at $35 annually, and include benefits like member-only author presentations and exclusive book sales. All donations are tax-deductible.

    Money raised by the Friends funds Scottsdale Public Library events and programs, including the Storytime Room expansion, Summer Reading Program, and Ultimate PlayDate.

    To become a Friends member, visit this page and you can pay online via credit card. You can also fill out and mail our membership brochure to:

    The Friends of Scottsdale Public Library
    PO Box 71
    Scottsdale, AZ 85252

    All new and renewal memberships completed between now and the end of 2021 will count toward the membership matching promotion.

    17Oct, 2021
    Happy Friends of Libraries Week

    October 17-31 is National Friends of Libraries Week, and we want to thank all the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library members for supporting our initiatives to improve the experience at the library.

    We have plenty of ways to celebrate over the next two weeks, including a fundraiser at Oregano’s on Tuesday, October 19 (20 percent of sales go to the Friends when you present this flyer) and free book bingo on Tuesday, October 26.

    One easy (and free) way to show your library friendship is to sign up for a library card. SPL has a goal of 2,000 new card sign-ups by November 30, and the goal is well over halfway complete.

    Library cardholders will also be invited to a Library Appreciation Night at Scottsdale Stadium on Friday, November 12, which includes entertainment funded by the Friends.

    If you want to support this and other library programs, please consider a Friends membership. They start at just $35 annually, and you’ll receive invites to author presentations and more fun activities.

    29Jun, 2021
    Friends Supports 2021 Summer Reading Program

    The Summer Reading Program (SRP) is off and running, and once again the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is helping to fund the prize packs for those who complete the program.

    Teen prize pack for 2021 Summer Reading Program

    The SRP runs from June 1 through August 1, 2021, and is open to readers of all ages. It is not too late to sign up, and anyone who reaches 1,000 points is eligible to receive a prize pack after August 2 (while supplies last).

    You’ll receive one point for every minute read, and you can also receive additional points by completing online challenges or attending events. Children can also pick-up a free gameboard at any Scottsdale Public Library branch during open hours, as well as drive-thru windows and curbside pickup.

    To register for the Summer Reading Program, visit https://maricopacountyreads.org.

    27Apr, 2021
    Friends Recognized in New Display Honoring Scottsdale History

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is proud to be recognized as one of 15 organizations selected for “Celebrate Scottsdale Organizations,” a display opening this summer to acknowledge non-profits bringing “a uniqueness to Scottsdale.”

    The permanent display will open at the end of June next to the Scottsdale Heritage Connection in Civic Center Library. This display will debut during the 70th anniversary of the incorporation of Scottsdale in 1951.

    Honored organizations will receive a 2 foot by 4 foot panel in the final display to showcase pictures, significant programs, and their mission statement. It will be available for public viewing during normal Library hours.

    An independent five member Selection Committee chose the honorees with criteria including:

    • Non-profit status
    • 30 years of longevity providing services to Scottsdale and special communities
    • A major event, fundraisers, and local citizens as members and volunteers

    Other chosen organizations include Scottsdale Boys and Girls Clubs, McDowell Sonoran Land Trust, Scottsdale Leadership, Scottsdale Arts, Scottsdale Community Partners, Scottsdale Railroad and Mechanical Society, Scottsdale Sister Cities Association, Scottsdale Historical Society, HonorHealth Auxiliary, Scottsdale Charros, Scottsdale Rotary Cub, Scottsdale Jaycees, Arabian Horse Association, and Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce.

    There will also be approximately 45 additional organizations featured in the final display, but those names have not been announced. Stay tuned for pictures once construction is underway.

    6Apr, 2021
    Friends Prioritizes 2nd Grade Library Card Campaign for Arizona Gives Day

    Today is Arizona Gives Day, and this year the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is raising money for one of our signature programs: the 2nd Grade Library Card Campaign.

    We’ve set a goal to raise $1,000, which will allow us to provide a free backpack to 400 Scottsdale second graders who sign up for their first library card.

    Each year, Scottsdale Public Library staff work with schools in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley to promote the program to as many second graders as possible. During the 2019-2020 school year, 234 second graders signed up for their first card, with 6,058 subsequent checkouts.

    This is the first year the Friends has participated in Arizona Gives Day since 2018, but we raised over $900 through the early giving period that began on March 16. While you can donate to the Friends year-round through Arizona Gives Day, donations received today make us eligible for bonus prizes.

    We received some extra promotion for Arizona Gives Day this year through an article in the April edition of Scottsdale Independent.

    If you’d like to help us reach our goal, simply visit https://www.azgives.org/scottsdalelibraryfriends and click the green Donate button.

    19May, 2020
    Friends Sponsors 2020 Summer Reading Program

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is proud to support this year’s Scottsdale Public Library Summer Reading Program (SRP), which will run from June 1 through August 1, 2020.

    Designed to encourage literacy at all ages, kids, teens, and adults log each minute they read over two months online to earn points. The goal is to read at least 20 minutes each day to build a lifelong reading habit.

    There will also be reading challenges and library programs with secret codes.

    Many of the events will be held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 virus. These include yoga storytimes, Shark Week family storytime, a series with McDowell Sonoran Preserve, craft programs, and trivia games for teens and adults.

    Kids can pick up a bilingual gameboard at Civic Center Library through the drive thru windows at the Appaloosa, Arabian and Mustang branches or curbside from Civic Center starting May 26, or at service desks when the Library reopens in early June.

    Participants who complete the program will receive completion prize packets during August, while supplies last. The Friends contributed towards the purchase of this year’s prizes, which will include books, journals, stickers, and water bottles.