28Apr, 2023
    Someburros to Donate 30 Percent of Sales to Library on May 18

    The next Friends restaurant fundraiser will take place at Someburros in North Scottsdale (7501 E Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard) on May 18.

    Someburros Food

    This fundraiser will feature a few additional benefits to distinguish it from our previous restaurant fundraisers:

    1. The Friends will receive 30 percent of the proceeds, so a larger percentage of your purchase will benefit a great cause
    2. The fundraiser will take place all day (9am to 9pm), so you can enjoy huevos racheros in the morning, a taco salad for lunch, and/or an enchilada combo for dinner

    You can either show the Friends flyer when you order, or simply mention the Friends. Please share this fundraiser with friends and family so we can generate as many sales as possible.

    Phoenix Open Golfer
    3Jan, 2023
    Birdies for Charity

    This online fundraiser has you pledge a set amount (as little as $.01) for every birdie scored at the WM Phoenix Open on February 6-12. Visit http://tinyurl.com/splbirdies2023 to pledge your donation by 5pm on February 12.

    The Friends will receive a 10% bonus from Thunderbirds Charities once we reach $500 in pledges.

    3Jan, 2023
    Birdies for Charity is Back

    Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is once again participating in Birdies for Charity in partnership with the WM Phoenix Open and Thunderbirds Charities on February 6-12.

    Phoenix Open Golfer
    The popular 16th green at TPC Scottsdale generates many birdies every year

    This fundraiser works just like a walk-a-thon, except instead of pledging for every mile completed, you pledge a set amount (as low as $.01) for every birdie scored by a golfer at this year’s tournament.

    With over 1,300 expected birdies, putting in your two cents will still generate plenty of money for the Friends (1,500 birdies at a $.02 pledge would equal a $30 donation). You can also pledge a flat amount.

    This is one of our favorite fundraisers for the year, for a few reasons:

    1. All transaction fees (including credit card processing) are covered by Thunderbirds Charities, meaning whatever you donate is received in its entirety
    2. Thunderbirds Charities offers a 10 percent bonus if a charity receives at least $500, so we can receive extra money based on having more donors

    To participate in Birdies for Charity, visit tinyurl.com/splbirdies2023 and select “Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library” when prompted for your charity. All pledges must be received by 5pm on February 13.

    15Dec, 2022
    BJ’s Fundraiser Set for February 1

    Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library will be partnering with BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse in Desert Ridge (21001 North Tatum Blvd) to receive 20 percent of food sales on February 1.

    Support the Library will in-person or take-out orders at BJ’s

    From 5pm to 10pm, you have three options to participate in this BJ’s fundraiser:

    1. Dine in and present our flyer at any time during your meal
    2. Order online and enter the six-digit fundraiser code FEB321 when you check-out
    3. Order take-out and present our flyer when paying

    BJ’s has something for all the food lovers in your family, including burgers and steaks, pizza and pasta, and soups and salads.

    While known for its large selection of beers, the Friends will only receive a portion of proceeds from food and non-alcoholic beverages.

    The Friends has raised over $1,700 through restaurant fundraisers in 2021 and 2022, and this is a delicious way to continue supporting the library. Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you on February 1.

    Cardholder Concert
    30Oct, 2022
    Scottsdale Library Cardholder Celebration

    Library cardholders will enjoy a free family-friendly concert featuring Uncorked the Band singing rock and dance tunes. The stage will be in the outfield, and guests can bring blankets and chairs (subject to inspection at gate) or sit in the stands.

    The Friends is sponsoring the band as well as other entertainment. Visit our table to participate in the 50/50 raffle and collect free giveaways.

    At 6pm, the Friends will be presenting the 2022 Spirit of Literacy Awards.

    Food and beverages will be available for sale; no outside food/beverages will be permitted except sealed water bottles. No alcohol, coolers, or large bags are permitted. There will be vegetarian options at the concessions stand, but no alcohol will be sold.

    30Oct, 2022
    2022 Spirit of Literacy Award Winners Announced

    Please join us in congratulating the 2022 Spirit of Literacy Award (SOL) winners: Peggy Sharp Chamberlain, Phillip Payne, Mariko Whelan, and the Literary Society of the Southwest (LSSW). The awards will be presented on Saturday, November 5.

    Spirit of Literacy Awards
    Picture of most recent SOL Award plaques

    Since 2002, the SOL Awards recognize significant contributions to support libraries and literacy in Scottsdale by individuals, corporations, foundations, and other entities. The Friends Board of Directors selects the winners annually.

    Sharp Chamberlain was a six year member and former Chair of the Scottsdale Library Board. She also served three years on the Friends Board of Directors and re-launched its membership program, in addition to providing authors for children’s programs at the library.

    Payne is the owner and artist-in-residence at Anticus Fine Art Gallery/Independent Bookstore in Old Town Scottsdale. He hosts author presentations and book clubs, and has partnered with the Friends and LDV Winery on three art, book, and wine pairings during 2022.

    Whelan is the Early Learning, Youth & Teen Services Coordinator for Scottsdale Public Library. She is a published author who presents at conferences on early learning, and facilitates programs sponsored by the Friends such as Family Read Aloud Nights and Girls in STEM.

    LSSW provides grants to community organizations with literacy missions and hosts luncheons with author discussions. LSSW provided funding to the Friends for the SkyRoom renovation and FRAN program.

    For the first time, the 2022 SOL award presentations will be open to the public as they will be incorporated into the Scottsdale Library Cardholder Celebration on November 5 at Scottsdale Stadium. The awards will be presented at 6pm.

    1Mar, 2022
    Friends Members Enjoy High Tea With Authors

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library celebrated “We Love Reading” month with a high tea celebration featuring 18 guests, six local authors and an afternoon of fun on February 24.

    Friends members enjoy high tea with authors

    TeaTime Scottsdale served as host for this sold out event. Guests enjoyed multiple varieties of tea, sandwiches, and desserts while discussing books with authors Dan Baldwin, Donis Casey, Dianne Freeman, Karen Odden, Betty Webb, and Dianne White.

    To ensure a safe and intimate event, each table featured three Friends members and an author. While the event was not exclusive to Friends members, they received a $10 discount on tickets. In all, 14 of the 18 attendees were Friends members.

    The Friends want to extend a special thank you to Sonoran National Insurance Group for its sponsorship of this event.

    The event was such a success that a sequel is already being discussed. In order to receive priority notice (and discounts) for all Friends events, consider becoming a member today.

    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.

    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.

    28Sep, 2021
    Art & Literature Scavenger Hunt Set for October 14

    The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is partnering with the Scottsdale Gallery Association on the “Clue: Art + Literature Trivia Scavenger Hunt” featuring clues about well-known artists on Thursday, October 14.

    This event is part of the Gold Palette ArtWalk series, monthly themed events taking place in the Arts district of Old Town Scottsdale as part of the Thursday ArtWalk. From 6:30pm to 9pm, guests can walk down Main Street and see trivia questions about artists and their relation to Arizona. They can then enter the 20 participating galleries for answers to the questions.

    The goal of the scavenger hunt is to intrigue and entice art enthusiasts to learn while they enjoy world-class artwork.

    The Friends will also have a table at the Casa des Artistes Plaza (Main Street and Marshall Way) where guests can sign up for free Scottsdale Public Library cards, purchase used books, and spin the prize wheel.

    There is no cost to participate in this event, or any of the other Gold Palette ArtWalk events in Scottsdale.