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.

    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.

    6Apr, 2021
    Friends Prioritizes 2nd Grade Library Card Campaign for Arizona Gives Day

    Today is Arizona Gives Day, and this year the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is raising money for one of our signature programs: the 2nd Grade Library Card Campaign.

    We’ve set a goal to raise $1,000, which will allow us to provide a free backpack to 400 Scottsdale second graders who sign up for their first library card.

    Each year, Scottsdale Public Library staff work with schools in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley to promote the program to as many second graders as possible. During the 2019-2020 school year, 234 second graders signed up for their first card, with 6,058 subsequent checkouts.

    This is the first year the Friends has participated in Arizona Gives Day since 2018, but we raised over $900 through the early giving period that began on March 16. While you can donate to the Friends year-round through Arizona Gives Day, donations received today make us eligible for bonus prizes.

    We received some extra promotion for Arizona Gives Day this year through an article in the April edition of Scottsdale Independent.

    If you’d like to help us reach our goal, simply visit https://www.azgives.org/scottsdalelibraryfriends and click the green Donate button.

    20Jan, 2021
    Friends Participates in Birdies for Charity

    The “Greatest Show on Grass” will help raise money for Scottsdale Public Library this year, as the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library will benefit from every birdie scored at the Waste Management Phoenix Open from February 1-7.

    A golfer tees off at the famous 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale

    Friends is participating in Birdies for Charity, sponsored by Thunderbirds Charities. Donors can pledge a fixed amount (as low as $.01) for each birdie achieved at the Phoenix Open, and 100 percent of the Friends donors’ proceeds will benefit the Library.

    The Phoenix Open, despite the name, is played at TPC Scottsdale and is usually one of the most popular events on the PGA Tour. This year will have limited attendance due to COVID-19, so this is the next best way to get involved while supporting a great cause.

    To join in on the fun, visit https://tinyurl.com/birdies2021 and click the Donate Now button. There are two options to pledge, either per birdie or a fixed amount (minimum $20).

    As one of the higher scoring events on tour, it’s expected there will be 1,200 to 1,800 birdies scored at this year’s Phoenix Open. A pledge of $.01 with 1,500 birdies would result in a $15 donation.

    All pledges must be received by 5pm on Sunday, February 7, 2021. Please share this information with your friends and golf lovers, as Thunderbirds will match a percentage of funds once we reach total donations of $500.

    If you would prefer not to donate online, you can fill out and mail in this pledge form to:

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library
    PO Box 71
    Scottsdale, AZ 85252

    9Dec, 2019
    Friends Hosts Booth at Ultimate Play Date

    It was a day of fun and learning as the Friends once again supported Scottsdale Public Library’s Ultimate Play Date on Saturday, December 7 at Civic Center Library.

    The Friends’ table at Ultimate Play Date

    In addition to sponsoring the face painting exhibit, the Friends featured a booth with a prize wheel. Children could win bookmarks, pencils, and candy.

    The Play Date was filled with free educational and entertainment activities for children, including exhibits focused on science, music, and language. This annual event typically occurs during the spring, but was pushed to December this year due to construction on Scottsdale Mall.

    The Friends also solicited donations for our 2020 fundraising project, expansion of the children’s story time room at Civic Center Library. If you’d like to help with this effort, please consider a tax-deductible donation.

    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.

    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.

    17Nov, 2017
    Friends Raises Funds via 1st Bank Good Week

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library participated in 1st Bank’s annual Good Week on November 14 to raise money for the Scottsdale Heritage Connection (SHC).

    SHC volunteers at 1st Bank Good Week event

    Good Week provided free lunches at its branches in Gilbert and Scottsdale all week from local restaurants. The Friends partnered with Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers, which offered burgers, macaroni and cheese and non-alcoholic drinks.

    Friends promoted the SHC and raised money from interested donors. The event raised over $100 toward the SHC project.

    Thank you to 1st Bank for providing this platform to promote the preservation of Scottsdale’s history.

    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.

    3Sep, 2017
    Tuft & Needle Supports Scottsdale Library Through Affiliate Program

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library are partnering with local mattress manufacturer Tuft & Needle on a fundraiser where 25 percent of proceeds from mattresses sold using the Friends code will go to the Scottsdale Library.

    If you’re in the market for a new mattress, simply take the following steps to participate:

    1. Visit https://www.tuftandneedle.com/?p=993dc660
    2. Purchase one of the mattresses, which will be delivered to your house

    You can also visit one of the Tuft & Needle showrooms throughout the Valley to test out different mattresses, but in order to benefit the Library you’ll need to mention it when you check out.