25Jan, 2018
    Scottsdale Library to Feature Monthly Salon Series of Scottsdale History

    The Scottsdale Library will host a series of free monthly events to showcase the history of the city beginning Thursday, February 22.

    The events will all take place at the Civic Center branch from 6pm to 7pm, and will be hosted by Scottsdale historians and authors Joan Fudala and Doug Sydnor. Each session will have a theme, and will feature photos, videos and other historic documents collected by the City.

    The first event on February 22 will focus on Scottsdale Special Events History. Subsequent events that are already planned include:

    • Scottsdale Art History on Thursday, March 8
    • Scottsdale’s History of Preservation on Thursday, April 12
    • Scottsdale’s Historic Properties & Architectural History on Thursday, May 17

    The salon series will promote the Library’s Scottsdale Heritage Connection, a project of the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library to create a permanent exhibition that showcases all of the City’s historical documents.

    For more information on the series or the City’s historical collection, please visit http://www.scottsdalelibrary.org/historical.

    5Sep, 2017
    Friends to Host Book Fair at Barnes & Noble from September 7-12

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is excited to once again partner with Barnes & Noble on a book fair, with a portion of book sales proceeds benefiting the Friends.

    From Thursday, September 7 through Tuesday, September 12, you can participate in one of three ways:

    • Bring in this flyer when you shop at the Barnes & Noble at Shea Boulevard and the 101 freeway in Scottsdale and show it at checkout, or mention that you are supporting the Scottsdale Library book fair
    • Attend the free Children’s Learning Festival on September 9 at WestWorld and purchase one of the children’s books written by a local Arizona author
    • Visit http://bn.com/bookfairs and use bookfair ID 12217683 at checkout

    These are all great ways to support lifelong learning while also raising money for the Scottsdale Library. Thank you for your continued support.

    15Nov, 2016
    Friends Relaunches Membership Program

    Are you looking to support programming at the Scottsdale Public Library? Well for as low as $35, you can join the Friends of Scottsdale Public Library and provide invaluable funding to our programs.

    All donations are tax-deductible and support important Library programs like author visits, children’s educational events and our external projects like Books2Go and Story Stroll. Memberships last for one year, and we’ll even highlight you on our website.

    If your company offers employee matching, make sure you mention your donation or even your volunteer hours if you help out at a Library branch. It’s possible your employer will match your donation.

    Thank you so much to our Friends, as we couldn’t provide great programming at the Library without their support.

    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.

    3Nov, 2013
    Authors & Appetizers 2013: An Evening of Mystery

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library would like to thank everyone who came out to Authors & Appetizers on Friday. It was a great event filled with food, fun and fiction!

    Event attendees were treated to an evening of mystery with best-selling author J.A. Jance and award-winning author Susan Cummins Miller. The authors spoke about the writing process and shared the personal experiences that led to the creation of certain characters and situations depicted in their novels.

    Following the program, fans of the authors were able to have their books signed. Books were also available for purchase thanks to The Poisoned Pen.

    The evening concluded with a raffle, where some of our attendees won amazing prize packages.

    Thank you to all who attended and all who helped to make this event possible. We’ll see you next year for Authors & Appetizers 2014!

    30Oct, 2013
    Awesome Prizes Up for Grabs at Authors & Appetizers

    This year’s Authors & Appetizers is fast approaching, and the November 1 event is getting more exciting by the minute! In addition to meeting renowned mystery authors J.A. Jance and Susan Cummins Miller, attendees will have the chance to win some amazing prize packages in our raffle.

    Raffle tickets will be available at the event. You can purchase tickets for $20 each or you can buy a package of 8 tickets for $100. Once you have your tickets, you can choose which raffle you’d like to enter.

    Take a peek at some of the goodies that are up for grabs!

    The Shopping Basket (valued at $800+)

    Gift cards for major retailers, med spa gift certificates, designer jewelry and more are all a part of this prize package.

    Dinner & Golf (valued at $1,000+)

    The winner of this prize package will enjoy dinner at one of the area’s finest steakhouses and a round of golf for four. Plus, you’ll receive a something from a former U.S. Vice President (come to our event to find out more about what’s in that frame!).

    Family Fun (valued at $700+)

    This family fun pack comes with movie tickets, books, ice cream and more for your family to enjoy.

    The Sports Enthusiast (valued at $800+)

    Cardinals tickets, a round of golf, a Suns prize pack and more are part of this sports-themed basket.

    These are just a few of the baskets that will be part of our raffle. Be sure to come by and check out all of our prizes! Luckily, it’s not too late to buy tickets —  you can purchase them online right now by clicking here.

    16Oct, 2013
    Local Residents Enjoy Discussion of Paradise Valley Architecture

    From the early settlements of the late 19th century to the homes, clubs and resorts that followed, Paradise Valley has a unique and rich architectural history. Last night, local architect and historian Douglas B. Sydnor visited the Appaloosa Library to share the facts, photos and individual stories he collected for his latest book, Images of America: Paradise Valley Architecture.

    Guests of all ages attended the event, where they learned about Paradise Valley’s original homes, municipal buildings, churches and schools — and how they’ve helped shape the city we see today. As a longtime Paradise Valley resident (Sydnor’s father, architect Reginald Sydnor, designed the family’s PV home and others), Sydnor was also able to share his personal insights and memories.

    After the presentation, guests were able to ask questions, purchase books and meet the author. The proceeds of the book sales at the event benefited the Friends of the Scottsdale Library and will be used to fund the Discovery Zone project. We’d like to thank Douglas for hosting this wonderful event!

    To learn about our upcoming events, click here.

    9Oct, 2013
    Scottsdale Library Friends Host an Intimate Evening with J.A. Jance and Susan Cummins Miller

    For Immediate Release

    Jance and Miller will speak about their new books and chat with fans at the annual fundraiser

    Scottsdale, Ariz. (October 09, 2013) – The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is excited to announce that celebrated authors J.A. Jance and Susan Cummins Miller will be the guests of honor at the annual “Authors & Appetizers” event on November 1. The organization’s signature fundraiser, “Authors & Appetizers” gives attendees the chance to hear well-known authors discuss their work, as well as the opportunity to ask questions and have their books signed – all in a cocktail party atmosphere.

    J.A. Jance, who grew up in Bisbee, Ariz., is the New York Times best-selling author of the J.P. Beaumont series, the Joanna Brady series, the Ali Reynolds series, four interrelated thrillers about the Walker Family, and her poetry collection “After the Fire.” Her latest novel “Second Watch,” the 21st novel in the J.P. Beaumont series, was released in September.

    Susan Cummins Miller is a mystery writer who is best known for the Frankie MacFarlane series. Before becoming an author, Miller worked as a field geologist and geology and oceanography professor in Arizona. She currently resides in Tucson, where in addition to writing, she is a research affiliate and SIROW Scholar with the University of Arizona’s Southwest Institute for Research on Women.

    “Authors & Appetizers” will take place on November 1, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Civic Center Library (3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.) in Scottsdale, Ariz. The event will also feature live music, hors d’oeuvres and several raffle items. Books by both authors will be available for purchase from The Poisoned Pen at the event.

    Tickets can be purchased for $50 per person or $90 per couple ($40 per person/$70 per couple for Friends members) by visiting our website, or calling 480-382-5817.

    About the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library

    An all-volunteer non-profit organization, the Friends of the Scottsdale Library is a group dedicated to garnering community support for enhanced and expanded Scottsdale Public Library services, programs and materials. Currently, Friends is raising money to build The Discovery Zone, an early literacy and technological learning area for young children.

    30Sep, 2013
    Arizona Architect and Historian Illuminates Unique History of Paradise Valley

    For Immediate Release

    Douglas B. Sydnor will discuss his new book at Scottsdale’s Appaloosa Library

    Scottsdale, Ariz. (September 30, 2013) – The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is proud to announce that Douglas B. Sydnor will be hosting a public discussion and book signing for his latest book, Images of America: Paradise Valley Architecture. The event will take place on October 15th at the Appaloosa Library (7377 E. Silverstone Drive) from 6pm – 8pm. The event is free, and books will be available for purchase.

    Sydnor is a local architect, Scottsdale Historic Preservation Chairman, Scottsdale Library Board Chairman, and author. His previous works include “Images of America: Scottsdale Architecture,” and “Plugger: The Architecture of Reginald Sydnor.”

    In Images of America: Paradise Valley Architecture, Sydnor features the evolving architecture of the Arizona town from the late 1890s to 2012. The story begins with three surveyors in the late 19th century who were so attracted to the area’s desert beauty that they named the town Paradise Valley. The book then details the adobe homes of the 1920s, the construction of the Camelback Inn resort in 1936, the town’s potential annexation, municipal ordinances and other events that have helped shape the town.

    The book also presents an appreciation of the architects who have made a positive impact, including Frank Lloyd Wright, Paolo Soleri, Bennie Gonzales, Ralph Haver, and Blaine Drake. “Images of America: Paradise Valley” is the first architectural publication of its type to document the Paradise Valley community. For more information about this event, please call 480-382-5817.

    About The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library

    An all-volunteer non-profit organization, the Friends of the Scottsdale Library is a group dedicated to garnering community support for enhanced and expanded Scottsdale Public Library services, programs and materials. Currently, Friends is raising money to build The Discovery Zone, an early literacy and technological learning area for young children.