civiccenter - The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library

8Mar, 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.

9Jan, 2023

Art Gallery Reception

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

15Apr, 2022

INTERWOVEN: Telaraña Fiber Arts Guild Reception

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.

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.

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.

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.