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.

    9Nov, 2021
    Congratulations to Spirit of Literacy Award Winners

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library honored the 2020 and 2021 Spirit of Literacy Award recipients at a breakfast at Civic Center Library on November 5.

    Spirit of Literacy Award Honorees
    Mayor David Ortega with the 2020 and 2021 Spirit of Literacy Award winners

    This year’s event honored two years of winners because the 2020 breakfast had to be postponed due to COVID-19. All honorees were selected by the Friends Board of Directors.

    The 2021 recipients included Jim & Sandy Bruner, Christine & Rick Kovach, Teresa Kim Hayes-Quale, and Karen Yamasaki. The 2020 recipients were Lois McFarland, David & Diana Smith, and the Silverman Family Foundation.

    Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega presented the seven awards, and historian (and former Friends Board President and Spirit of Literacy Award winner) Joan Fudala wrote up introductions highlighting their candidacies.

    The honorees included three former City Councilmen, three former Library Board members, and three Scottsdale Leadership graduates. All have been loyal advocates and fundraisers for Scottsdale Public Library.

    The Spirit of Literacy Awards were first awarded in 2002, and have recognized individuals, foundations, and corporations who support libraries and literacy in Scottsdale. For a full list of previous winners, visit this page.

    4Nov, 2021
    Author Jenn McKinlay Entertains Friends Members

    The latest “Airtime With an Author” event welcomed New York Times best-selling author Jenn McKinlay to the patio at Appaloosa Library on Tuesday, November 2.

    Author Jenn McKinlay discusses her work with Friends members

    McKinlay is the author of 49 books, specializing in mystery and romance novels. She is based in Phoenix.

    She previously worked part time at Phoenix Public Library while pursuing her dream of becoming an author, and met her husband while both were library employees.

    McKinlay discussed how she got started as an author, providing funny stories about her experiences working with editors. She explained ongoing challenges in the writing industry, and documented key family events that coincided with career milestones.

    The event offered limited capacity, was outside, and practiced social distancing to ensure member safety. McKinlay also signed copies of her books.

    “Airtime With an Author” events are one of the many perks of becoming a Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library member, and are held several times per year.

    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.