27Aug, 2019
    Come Learn the History of Scottsdale Sports on Thursday, September 12

    The Scottsdale Public Library has announced its next free salon series events celebrating the history of sports in Scottsdale on Thursday, September 12 at 6pm.

    Historian Joan Fudala will present pictures and stories covering Scottsdale’s many ventures into sports, including Spring Training, golf events, and high school sports.

    Back by popular demand, additional salon series events will soon be announced to cover numerous historical topics. They are led by Fudala and Doug Sydnor, former members of the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library Board, in conjunction with the Scottsdale Heritage Connection (SHC).

    The salon series originally began in February 2018, with continuations in fall 2018 and spring 2019. While they have traditionally rotated throughout Scottsdale Library branches, the hope is that they will soon be housed within the SHC space, scheduled to open to the public this fall.

    1Jul, 2019
    Scottsdale Heritage Connection Unveiled With Ribbon Cutting

    After over two years of fundraising, the Scottsdale Heritage Connection held its ribbon cutting ceremony with a private breakfast for donors on Tuesday, June 25 at Civic Center Library.

    SHC Ribbon Cutting
    Mayor Jim Lane and Paul Messinger cut the ribbon for the Scottsdale Heritage Connection

    Mayor Jim Lane was present to cut the ribbon, as were valued members of the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library and the SHC fundraising committee. Attendees were treated to a tour of the space and breakfast items catered by Creations in Cuisine Catering.

    The space is in the former home of Scottsdale Public Art next to the Knowasis Teen Center. It will be open to the public later this summer, as shelving still needs to be installed to house the historical documents. Once opened, the SHC will showcase over 10,000 documents celebrating the history of Scottsdale.

    For those unable to attend, here is a brief Project Narrative reviewed during the opening.

    Stay tuned for more details about free historical programming in the space beginning this fall. It’s also not too late to donate if you want to help us hit our goal of $500,000. The next stage of the project will be installing kiosks at the other Scottsdale Library branches to showcase the collection.

    17Jun, 2019
    Scottsdale Heritage Connection Featured in Several Local Publications

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library’s recent fundraising effort, the Scottsdale Heritage Connection (SHC), was profiled in a recent articles in the Scottsdale Independent and Scottsdale Progress.

    SHC Construction
    Construction of the Scottsdale Heritage Connection in progress

    The Independent article interviewed Library staff as well as the Scottsdale Charros, one of the donors to the SHC project. It also highlighted additional fundraising efforts by the Friends, including the Books2Go micro libraries.

    The Progress article focused on the May City Council meeting where the Scottsdale Library approved of naming rights for the interior space for the Messinger Family.

    Both articles included construction images of the SHC space in Civic Center Library.

    If the links to the articles no longer work, you can also access screenshots from the Independent and Progress websites.

    1Nov, 2018
    Scottsdale Library History Salon Series is Back in January

    Scottsdale Public Library has announced its next round of free salon series events celebrating the history of Scottsdale beginning in January.

    The first event on Thursday, January 10, 2019 will feature Golf in Scottsdale at Arabian Library at 6pm, just in time for the annual Phoenix Open golf tournament.

    Join us at Civic Center Library on Thursday, February 14, 2019 for History of Scottsdale Housing at 6pm.

    The March event will delve into How Scottsdale Evolved as a Health & Wellness Center. It will take place Thursday, March 14, 2019 at 6pm in Appaloosa Library, which will turn 10 years old in 2019.

    In April, we’ll explore Why Scottsdale Looks the Way It Does at Mustang Library Auditorium on Thursday, April 11, 2019 at 6pm.

    Lastly, on May 2, 2019 we hope to celebrate the opening of the Scottsdale Heritage Connection (SHC) with Preserving Scottsdale’s Stories: Publications and Oral Histories in the SHC Collection. This event will take place in Civic Center Library’s Copper Gallery at 6pm.

    All events are hosted by Scottsdale historians and authors Joan Fudala and Doug Sydnor. They will include photos, videos and other historic documents that will be featured in the SHC when it opens in 2019.

    The SHC is being funded through a capital campaign by the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library.

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

    7Sep, 2018
    Friends to Host Grand Opening Reception of Library’s Frank Lloyd Wright Exhibit

    Architecture lovers, be sure to attend the Scottsdale Library’s grand opening of Footprints on the Desert, an art exhibit celebrating the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, on Friday, September 21 from 6:30pm to 8pm at Civic Center Library.

    Footprints on the Desert will be on display for free at the Library from September 15 through December 31, but this one day only reception will feature special guest Vernon Swaback, who studied under Wright for two years. The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library will be providing appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages at this free event.

    Organized by the AZ Heritage Center and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation in celebration of Wright’s 150th birthday, Footprints on the Desert includes images and artifacts from his past, as well as designs for structures that weren’t built.

    The reception and exhibit will take place in the gallery at Civic Center Library, which in 2019 will become the new home of the Scottsdale Heritage Collection. This will be the last exhibit provided in the gallery by Scottsdale Public Art.

    1Aug, 2018
    Scottsdale Library History Salon Series to Continue This Fall

    The Scottsdale Public Library will be continuing its salon series celebrating the history of Scottsdale in September with three free events.

    While the previous salon series showcased all its events at the Civic Center branch, this fall’s series will offer programming at three different Library branches.

    Just in time for the new school year, the event on Thursday, September 8 will feature A History of Scottsdale’s Schools at Mustang Library from 6pm to 7pm.

    Join us at Civic Center Library on Thursday, October 11 for Celebrate 68! 50th Anniversary of Scottsdale’s Civic Center from 6pm to 7pm. This will also include a salute to the Civic Center Architect, Bennie Gonzales.

    The last event will help prepare for Scottsdale’s winter visitors with Scottsdale’s Tourism & Resort History. It will take place Thursday, November 15 from 6pm to 7pm at Appaloosa Library, which will turn 10 years old in 2019.

    All events are hosted by Scottsdale historians and authors Joan Fudala and Doug Sydnor. They will include photos, videos and other historic documents that will be featured in the Scottsdale Heritage Connection (SHC).

    The SHC is a permanent exhibition opening set to open in 2019 to showcase all of the City of Scottsdale’s historical documents. It is being funded through a capital campaign by the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library.

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

    30Apr, 2018
    Friends Chosen as Scottsdale Resort Community Thursday Partner

    If you like great food, delicious cocktails and excellent views of the Arizona desert, you can enjoy all of that while supporting the Scottsdale Library during Thursdays in May.

    Scottsdale Resort Flyer

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is the official nonprofit partner for Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch‘s Community Thursday program. This means five percent of all sales at Bar Six40 and Kitchen West on Thursdays (after 4pm) next month will be donated to the Friends.

    The Friends will be designating any money raised to the Scottsdale Heritage Connection, which is a fundraiser to build a permanent exhibit at Civic Center Library to showcase all of Scottsdale’s written and photographic history.

    To participate, all you need to do is enjoy a delicious meal at either Bar Six40 or Kitchen West during any of the five Thursdays in May 2018. You don’t need to mention the Friends or Scottsdale Library, but the more people you bring, the more money we raise.

    Please spread the word and help us preserve Scottsdale’s history while enjoying happy hour or dinner and one of the last chances to dine outside until October.

    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.

    15Feb, 2017
    Spring is Busy Time for Scottsdale Public Library

    With winter visitors and beautiful weather already started, the Scottsdale Public Library has plenty of fun events on tap for spring 2017.

    On March 4, the Civic Center branch will feature the 4th Ultimate Play Date from 9am to 2pm. This event is catered to children ages 0-8, and will include Play Zones specializing in everything from music & dance to science & technology. There will also be a grilled cheese food truck. All activities are free of charge.

    From March 27 to April 1, Mustang Library will be hosting Garden Week. Every day will have free special events, including a flower show, presentations from the Butterfly Wonderland and the Maricopa Audubon Society and tips on landscaping, urban farming and Xeriscape. It will culminate on April 1 with a book sale.

    From April 9 to April 15, celebrate National Library Week. This annual national celebration has been promoting appreciation of our local libraries since 1958. The theme for 2017 will once again be “Libraries Transform,” and two-time World Cup champion Julie Foudy will serve as honorary chair.

    Lastly, be on the lookout for the first Books2Go installation at Chaparral Park in March. Shaped like a doghouse to match the dog park where it’s located, it will be a micro-library supporting the “take a book, leave a book” system. No library card is required to use this program.