Friends of the Palm Springs Library

The Palm Springs Public Library Teen Maker Space will allow Teens and Tweens to explore their interests in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) in a no-pressure environment. The circulating STEAM kits give students access to science experiments, art projects, and math-inspired activities in their own homes. These kits will come fully stocked with everything they need to complete the activities. The Teen Maker Space at the Palm Springs Public Library will include STEAM kits, iPads, robots, 3-D printing, Craft Printers, and a Mobile Maker Cart. Using Technology such as iPads, Sphero Robots, Hue Animation Studio and Snap Circuits the Teen Maker Space will become an environment where students can learn coding, animation, digital art skills, and graphic design through both structured programs and open play. The iPads will have access to Procreate Sketch, Paint, Create, and Pixton. Programs will include access to 3-D printers, craft printers, a button maker, and a Mobile Maker Cart. The Mobile Maker Cart will be stocked with supplies for creativity and learning through exploration. Teens and Tweens will have an environment where they have the freedom to explore STEAM topics and make connections with peers.

Contact: Teen Librarian, Stephanie Laing

Stephanie.Laing@palmspringsca.gov

Friends of the Palm Springs Library support the Palm Springs Public Library by providing books, movies, music, furnishings, and electronic equipment as well as advocating for funding, gifts, and memorials. The Friends support programs that encourage reading, culture, the arts and volunteer-based activities to support our greater community. 

One of the special projects of the Friends is the sponsorship of Summer Reading Program. This year, the Library is giving free books to children and teens through the Books for Kids program. By reading just 240 minutes during the six week Summer Reading Program children and teens will receive a pack of five new, free books. With libraries and schools closed due to COVID-19, getting books to kids is more important than ever. Our entire program is online through a program called Beanstack and can be accessed here.

Our original grant request included funds for Beanstack, but the California State Library provided every public library in California a 3-year subscription through a statewide grant. We plan to use the extra funds for more books.

Studies show that when a child reads just five books during the summer they keep their reading level and prevent “summer slide.” We hope to encourage the joy of reading by giving children free books during the summer.

The Friends of the Palm Springs Library, in cooperation with the Palm Springs Public Library and a local Educator will distribute a 'Born To Read' early literacy kit to the parents of each newborn baby born at Desert Regional Medical Center. Literacy development begins at birth and is closely linked to a baby's earliest experiences with books and stories. Babies learn language through social literacy experiences - parents interacting with them using books. These experiences also serve to associate books with parental affection, attention, and approval. A program such as this would be the cornerstone of important literacy programs that both the Friends and the Public Library would like to make available to the community.

The kit would be comprised of the following:

• Bag with specialized logo
• Infant bib with specialized logo
• Two board books specially selected for babies with custom program bookplates
• Information about the Palm Springs Public Library, story times and more
• 3-5 paper sheets of information in English and Spanish about the importance of reading to your baby, developmental guidelines, etc.