28Oct, 2021
    Enjoy a Free Concert for Library Cardholders on November 12

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is sponsoring a night of music and fun featuring 80’s music band Rock Lobster on Friday, November 12 at 5:30pm.

    Scottsdale Stadium (7408 E Osborn Road) will host this free event that is exclusive to Scottsdale Public Library (SPL) cardholders of all ages, as a celebration of the Library Card Campaign running through November 30. SPL has set a goal of 2,000 new card sign-ups.

    Doors will open at 5:30pm, with the concert beginning at 6:30pm. Attendees can park at Civic Center Library next door, and they’ll need to show a library card to enter.

    There’s no RSVP required to attend, so just stop by on November 12. You can bring chairs and blankets, and there will be food and drinks available to purchase.

    Be sure to stop by the Friends table at the event, as we’ll be raising awareness of the Friends and signing up new members. It’s a great way to show your love for the library.

    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.

    28Sep, 2021
    Art & Literature Scavenger Hunt Set for October 14

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is partnering with the Scottsdale Gallery Association on the “Clue: Art + Literature Trivia Scavenger Hunt” featuring clues about well-known artists on Thursday, October 14.

    This event is part of the Gold Palette ArtWalk series, monthly themed events taking place in the Arts district of Old Town Scottsdale as part of the Thursday ArtWalk. From 6:30pm to 9pm, guests can walk down Main Street and see trivia questions about artists and their relation to Arizona. They can then enter the 20 participating galleries for answers to the questions.

    The goal of the scavenger hunt is to intrigue and entice art enthusiasts to learn while they enjoy world-class artwork.

    The Friends will also have a table at the Casa des Artistes Plaza (Main Street and Marshall Way) where guests can sign up for free Scottsdale Public Library cards, purchase used books, and spin the prize wheel.

    There is no cost to participate in this event, or any of the other Gold Palette ArtWalk events in Scottsdale.

    27Aug, 2021
    Join Us for Book Bingo on October 26

    Just in time for Halloween, you can enjoy some book tricks and treats featuring New York Times best-selling authors at our free book bingo event on Tuesday, October 26 from 3pm to 4:30pm.

    This virtual event is open to Maricopa County residents, and features authors Matt Coyle, Nicola Harrison, Greta Kelly, Laura Morelli, Sarah Warburton, and Karen White. While you enjoy the authors speak about their work, you’ll also be marking off key words on the bingo card supplied on your phone.

    Just like in regular bingo, participants will compete to cover five squares in a row. Winners will receive free copies of the authors’ books.

    To register for this event, please visit https://adventuresbythebook.com/event/book-bingo-trick-treat-2021/ and scroll down to where it says “Tickets.” You’ll receive a Zoom link and bingo card the week of the event from Adventures By the Book.

    Avid readers should also consider becoming a Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library member to join our monthly book club discussions, which are available at the Contributing Friend level and above.

    26Jul, 2021
    Restaurant Fundraisers Set for August 17 and September 21

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is partnering with local restaurants Macayo’s Mexican Restaurant and Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill on percentage nights during August and September.

    The first event will take place on Tuesday, August 17 at the Macayo’s at Pima Crossing (8608 East Shea Blvd). If you dine in and bring the Friends’ flyer, Macayo’s will donate 20 percent of your check to the Friends.

    The second event will occur on Tuesday, September 21 at the Ling and Louie’s at The Shops at 9400 (9397 East Shea Blvd). This promotion will feature a 15 percent donation for checks where the Friends’ flyer is presented, but is also eligible for take-out orders.

    So mark your calendars now for a night out with friends and family to benefit the Scottsdale Public Library. We are trying to plan more of these restaurant fundraisers in the future, so stay tuned for more details.

    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.

    10May, 2021
    Third “Airtime With an Author” Event Welcomes Donis Casey

    Local author Donis Casey was the latest local author to entertain the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library members with an hour long talk about her mystery novels on Friday, May 7 at Arabian Library.

    Book Signing
    Author Donis Casey signs copies of her book for Friends members

    The event was held outdoors on the patio with limited attendance due to COVID-19, and Casey spoke about how she got started writing, why she chose the mystery genre, and how she develops her characters across a series of novels.

    Her Alafair Tucker mysteries feature a woman (Tucker) with 10 children, and each book in the series spotlights one of the children in the middle of the mystery. While most are set in 1910s Oklahoma, The Wrong Hill to Die On takes place in Arizona. Each book in the series also features recipes at the end related to the novel’s topic.

    “It’s very hard to fool mystery readers, because if you read a lot of mysteries they know all your tricks,” Casey told the crowd. “That’s the fun of being a mystery writer is you have to try to fool the reader with a misdirect or a surprise.”

    Casey also discussed her newest series, the Bianca Dangerous Hollywood mysteries. Her latest novel in this series, Valentino Will Die, came out earlier this year.

    Due to summer weather, our next “Airtime with an Author” event won’t take place until the fall. These events are exclusive to Friends members, so be sure to join today so you don’t miss out on great local author presentations.

    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.

    15Mar, 2021
    Appaloosa Branch Offers Self-Service Branch Access

    Starting March 15, Scottsdale Public Library (SPL) card holders can utilize the new Pony Express service to access the Appaloosa Library branch without staff present.

    Patron using the Pony Express system at Appaloosa Library

    This branch has been closed since March 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, although all SPL branches offer drive-thru service for checking out materials.

    Pony Express will allow cardholders in good standing to utilize public computers, browse items, and conduct normal SPL business in a safe and monitored environment.

    You can currently register for Pony Express access by visiting the Appaloosa drive-thru service with a valid photo ID on Monday to Thursday from 10am to 6pm and Friday to Saturday from 1pm to 5pm.

    To ensure safety, patrons must wear face coverings and keep a distance of six feet between each other while in the building. Hand sanitation stations will be available. For those needing assistance, they can dial the SPL help line at 480-312-READ (7323).

    Pony Express accounts will need to be renewed annually, but registered users are able to bring guests under the age of 18.

    UPDATE: Check out SPL Director Kira Peters’ interview with Arizona Horizons regarding this program.