children - The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library

21Oct, 2023

First 24-Hour Donor Challenge Brings in Over $9K

The results are in from our first 24-Hour Donor Challenge, and we were able to raise $9,074 through the support of 59 donors.

The fundraiser took place on October 18 as part of National Friends of Libraries Week. All proceeds raised will benefit the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program.

Our original goal was to raise $5,000, in addition to $2,000 in matching donations. That goal was met within 13 hours, and the extra money raised will provide even more funding for this program.

The Friends would like to thank all of this year’s donors, and extend a special thank you to our three matching donors: Arcadia Pediatric Dental, John Berry, and Taste It Tours.

Stay tuned for news on the 2024 24-Hour Donor Challenge.

26Sep, 2023

Arizona Cardinals Fund Summer Reading Buddies

Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library would like to thank Arizona Cardinals Charities for donating $5,000 toward the Summer Reading Buddies program in 2023.

The program is designed to mitigate the “Summer Slide,” the loss of reading and writing skills over summer vacation that delays learning during the new school year.

The target audience for this program is 30 to 40 first to fourth graders in South Scottsdale. It last ran in 2019, providing six weeks of services for an average of 22 students.

The money will be used to purchase new Chromebook laptops to incorporate a technology component during summer reading. Since the program is volunteer-led, costs are restricted to technology, subscriptions, supplies, and refreshments.

You can find dates for this program on the Scottsdale Public Library website. To learn more about programs funded by the Friends, visit our Programs page.

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.

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.

21Jun, 2022

Friends Sponsors Summer Reading Program & Girls in STEM

For the third year in a row, the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is supporting the Summer Reading Program (SRP) to fund prizes for recipients of all ages.

The theme of this year’s program is “Oceans of Possibilities,” and many of the prizes purchased by the Friends are sea themed. This includes beach balls, fish squirters, and stickers. The Friends also supplied items for teen volunteers helping with the program.

The program runs from June 1 through August 1, and participants will receive one point for every minute they log of reading time at https://maricopacountyreads.org. Over 4,000 people have already registered.

Prizes can be earned starting at 250 points, so there is plenty of time left to participate. Other prizes this year include vouchers from Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, Peter Piper Pizza, Raising Cane’s, and Rubio’s, Phoenix Mercury tickets, and an Arizona State Parks pass.

The Friends is also supporting the Girls in STEM program, which takes place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in June and July at Civic Center Library. This program promotes careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) for female students (though males are allowed to participate) in sixth through eight grade with 90 minute sessions of hands-on activities.

Friends’ funding will support supplies including forensic science kits, chemistry sets, and star gazing kits, in addition to speakers and specialists on STEM topics.

You can support these and other free programs at Scottsdale Public Library branches through a Friends membership.

17May, 2022

SkyRoom Now Open for Family Storytime

Scottsdale Public Library re-opened its storytime room, now known as the SkyRoom, at Civic Center Library on May 12. The ceremony included an open house and a storytime for two and three year olds.

Sky Room Check Presentation — *Friends, Library and Fiesta Bowl representatives pose with $25,000 check*

The room renovation began in 2021, and more than doubled the size of the space to 3,428 square feet. TheSky Room also features a new audio/visual system, a flat screen Smart TV, and other technological components.

SkyRoom sponsors Fiesta Bowl Charities and Literary Society of the Southwest were both recognized during the opening remarks. Fiesta Bowl Charities also presented an oversized check and award to the Friends as one of its 2021 grant recipients.

The overall cost of the renovation was nearly $500,000, and the Friends donated $28,000 during the Phase 1 construction. Phase 2 funding is now underway, where Friends will raise an additional $28,000 to furnish the space with tables, lounge seating, and custom shelving.

If you would like to donate to this campaign, please visit our Storytime Room Expansion page. If you would like to enjoy the new space with your family, check out the library’s schedule of upcoming Family Storytimes.

28Apr, 2022

Sky Room Opening Celebration

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.

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.