Friends of the Palm Springs Library honored with $1,000 grant
I don’t know about you, but I love libraries. I have had an active library card since I was 6 years old! My first in Portland, Oregon. Then in New York City when I attended college in Manhattan. Next was Beverly Hills when I lived in Los Angeles, and now I have a card for our Rancho Mirage Library.
A lifetime of discovering so much joy inside the hallowed halls of these beautiful libraries.
We are blessed in our valley to have so many public libraries serving our entire community.
Friends of the Palm Springs Library is a dedicated group of individuals who play a crucial role in supporting and enhancing the literary landscape of our vibrant community.
Established in 1971 with the mission to encourage a love for reading, learning and community engagement, this group of volunteers has become an invaluable asset to the Palm Springs Public Library.
At the heart of the Friends’ mission is the promotion of literacy and education. Through book sales, fundraisers and community events, they generate financial support to fund many library programs and enhancements. These efforts contribute to the library’s ability to offer a diverse collection of books, digital resources and educational initiatives as well as their popular fundraiser, Palm
Springs Speaks. The speaker series brings distinguished speakers from the worlds of politics, wellness and entertainment to the Coachella Valley.
Jeannie Kays, the director of library services for the Palm Springs Public Library and Palm Springs Speaks planning committee, says “we really depend on the wonderful volunteers at the Friends of the Palm Springs Library. They do so much to help us by fundraising and getting the word out for everyone to support libraries.”
Indeed! The Friends serve as dedicated advocates for the library, raising awareness about its importance as a community hub. They collaborate with local schools, businesses and organizations to create a network of support. Through these partnerships, they call attention to the crucial impact the library has as a vital resource for learning and cultural enrichment.
“We are so happy to provide so much outreach for our community,” Kays says. “Events like Palm Springs Speaks bring luminaries from all over the world to Palm Springs. We have hosted Al Gore, Deepak Chopra, Al Franken and so many more. This is our fifth year. We will host Terry McMillan on Feb. 27 and Billy Dee Williams on March 7 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. These speaker series are a great way to raise money while also providing stimulating conversations with authors for everyone in our valley.”
The Friends of the Palm Springs Library’s main goals of helping support literacy, education and community engagement achieved through their fundraising really contribute to the library’s ability to serve as a dynamic center for learning and cultural enrichment.
You’ve heard the old saying “Read a book.” It’s really that simple. Despite the popularity of online apps, there is nothing like walking down long rows of beautifully bound books, carefully choosing one and then thumbing through the actual pages.
The Friends’ commitment to creating a love for literature makes them true advocates for the enduring importance of public libraries, and it’s for this commitment that we award them this week’s Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation Power of Community $1,000 grant so they may continue their passionate mission.
“Read a book.” Yes. With the longtime commitment of this busy nonprofit, the art of spending leisure time in a library and picking out just the right book to take you to people and places unknown will hopefully never disappear.
Learn more about the Friends of the Palm Springs Library at friendsofthepalmspringslibrary.org.
Sandie Newton is an award-winning broadcast journalist who began her career in Los Angeles as cohost of the nationally syndicated show “PM Magazine.” She went on to host many local and national shows like “Hollywood Insider” before becoming one of the original anchors for E! and a regular on Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family.” In 2017, she moved to the desert, creating and hosting NBCares for six years. She is currently the host of “Desert Chat,” a half-hour lifestyle show spotlighting all the good people, events and news in the Coachella Valley. Watch it Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on KESQ, at 10:30 p.m. on FOX 11 and noon Mondays on CW5.