Code Breaker and Author Annette Salvesen to Speak at the Library

On Tuesday, November 20, 2012 Author Annette Salvesenwill appear at the Palm Springs Public Library at 6:00 p.m.  Ms. Salvesen will discuss her book, “Sworn to Secrecy: World War II” which chronicles her story of being a code breaker at the Bletchley Park facility in England.

In 1944, during World War II, Annette Salvesen vowed never to discuss her work decoding messages from British intelligence agents stationed in Germany. Her book details her time at Bletchley Park, the highly secretive Government Code and Cypher School in Buckinghamshire, England. According to historical accounts, the high-level intelligence produced at Bletchley Park shortened the War in Germany by at least two years and saved millions of lives.

While Salvesen worked with messages from intelligence agents, other areas worked to crack messages sent within the German military through the “Enigma” cipher machine – a device the Nazis believed produced unbreakable codes. The decoders’ work helped strategic planning in some of the War’s biggest military operations. Knowing the enemy’s whereabouts before an attack was critical.
              

Prime Minister Winston Churchill praised the efforts – and the discretion – of the Bletchley staff, referring to the dedicated workers as “The geese that laid the golden eggs and never cracked.”
 

She will share her story and read from select passages of her book. The lecture is FREE and open to the public, but seating is limited.  The lecture will be presented in The Learning Center at the Library.

The Friends of the Palm Springs Library Host a Welcome Reception for the New Library Director

The Friends of the Palm Springs Public Library (FOPSL) are happy to welcome Jeannie Kays, the new Director of Library Services.  In celebration, and to give the public the opportunity to meet her, the Friends will be hosting a Special Welcome Social at the Library. The event will take place on Saturday, October 13th from 3:00—5:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Public Library.

There will be refreshments and all will have an opportunity to meet and greet the new Library Director in-person. The event will be FREE and open to the public but the Friends are encouraging everyone to bring a donation of gently used/almost new books, DVDs and CDs to donate for their annual sale that raises funds to support the Library.

The Friends of the Palm Springs Public Library (FOPSL) are a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, who promote an informed interest in the Library and encourage and administer dues, gifts and bequests to the Library. The Friends sponsor a book club and several fund raising programs and service events to help raise money or materials for the Library.

Wine Book Club has a new Location and Host.

The Palm Springs Public Library is proud to announce a new partnership with Crave, a dessert and wine bar in downtown Palm Springs, as the new host and location of the monthly Wine Book Club.

Going into its fourth season, the Wine Book Club is a group, led by a Librarian, that meets the last Wednesday of each month (December’s meeting will be on 12/19/12). Attending is FREE and open to the public, anyone over the age of 21 is welcome to attend and join in the discussion of that month’s book selection over a glass of wine (for a nominal fee). Crave will also be offering happy hour for the attendees at a special price.

The new schedule for the Wine Book Club’s 2012-12013 season will begin on Wednesday, September 26th at 6:00 p.m. at Crave, located at 390 N. Palm Canyon Dr. in Palm Springs. The group is reading and will discuss Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman. The full schedule can be found on the library’s web site at www.palmspringslibrary.org or on a book mark available at the Library or at Crave. All books are available to be checked out at the library and many of the books are available as an eBook or downloadable audiobook and can be downloaded from the Library’s website.

Crave is a new dessert bar that opened in downtown Palm Springs in April 2012.  Their focus is to have a place where people can decompress from their day and connect; with each other and the community. These connections are the heart of Crave’s unique experience and that focus made it the perfect location for the Wine Book Club.

Crave is open Wednesday through Sunday evenings for dessert and on Saturday and Sunday mornings for coffee and fresh baked croissants and scones. To find out more about their hours, menu offerings and special events visit their web site at www.craveps.com or call 760-469-4587.

Learn More About the Many Effects of Climate Change at the Library

The Palm Springs Public Library in partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) will present a series of lectures focused on the effects of Climate Change.  This three-part series will show how climate change could transform our desert national parks and what role locally generated renewable energy can play in addressing climate change and meeting our energy needs.

 The first presentation in the series begins on Tuesday, September 25th, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. and will feature Chris Clarke, environmental journalist and founder of the group Desert Biodiversity.  He will present “In the Old Growth Desert” which will focus on the long life span of many desert plants and the effects that climate change has on their survival.

The series will continue on Tuesday, October 16th, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. with Joshua Tree National Park Physical Scientist and Geologist Luke Sabala.  He will present “Groundwater and Alternative Energy in the Southwest Desert”, examining the potential impacts of climate change on groundwater recharge and the role of future alternative energy projects in the southwest desert.

Finally, the series will conclude on Tuesday, December 11th, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. with Dr. Debra Hughson, Science Advisor for the Mojave National Preserve, presenting “Drought and the Drying Landscape”. 

 All three of the lectures will be held at the Palm Springs Public Library in the Learning Center and are FREE and open to the public. However, seating is limited and is on a first come, first served basis, no reservations are available.

Many Benefits Available During Library Card Month at the Palm Springs Public Library

September signifies many things; back to school for students, the sign that Fall is coming and it is also Library Card Sign-Up month at the Palm Springs Public Library.

A Library Card gives you access to thousands of books, DVDs, CDs, downloadable eBooks and audiobooks, programs, services and more!  And during these economically challenging times having a Library Card can provide you with many savings for your wallet.

By getting a Palm Springs Library Card you can save money by borrowing! When you total the cost of the latest best seller or CD + the cost of a DVD rental + a magazine subscription + a computer with internet service what do you get—an empty wallet!  But your wallet won’t be empty if you have a Palm Springs Library card. All these things and more are available to you for FREE when you have a Library card.

Already have a Library Card but have a few overdue fines?  Well don’t despair, September is also Fine Forgiveness month at the Palm Springs Public Library! Beginning September 1st—30th, anyone who wishes to participate must come into the Library in-person to have any fines forgiven. The fines must have been accumulated PRIOR to September 2012; new fines accumulated in September 2012 are NOT eligible. Any lost items must still be returned or the replacement fee still applies. So go through your closets and cars, bring in the overdue materials, clear your account and re-activate your card and rediscover the Library!

Plus this year there’s an added bonus, a Palm Springs Public Library Card will get you a FREE admission to the Palm Springs Art Museum!  During the month of September 2012 if you show your library card (or key tag) at the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Springs AND Palm Desert you will get FREE admittance to the Art Museum. “We are delighted to offer free admission to Palm Springs Public Library members for the Palm Springs Art Museum and the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert,” said Bob Bogard, Director of Marketing Communications. “We feel there is great synergy between our two organizations and loved the idea of offering free admission during National Library Card month.”

So come in and join us in celebrating National Library Card month and don’t miss out on all these benefits and more!

The Palm Springs Art Museum’s main facility is located in downtown Palm Springs in a 150,000 square foot architecturally-significant building and features compelling exhibitions and a robust permanent collection of modern, contemporary, Western and Native American, Mesoamerican and glass art.  The museum’s Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert features exhibitions and educational programs and an outdoor sculpture garden. A center for architecture and design is slated to open in spring, 2014. For more information, call 760-322-4800 or visit www.psmuseum.org.

Jeannie Kays Named New Executive Director of the Palm Springs Public Library

Regina “Jeannie” Kays will be the new leader of the Palm Springs Public Library, City Manager David H. Ready announced today. Kays will begin her first day at the Library on Aug. 21.

“Jeannie has led the Palm Desert Library since 2005 and brings a wealth of administrative experience to the position. She will excel in her new role as the leader of the Palm Springs Public Library,” said Ready. “Additionally, I want to thank the City’s Library Board for their assistance with the recruitment process.”

Kays, who resides in Cathedral City, holds a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science Education from Missouri State University. Since 2008, Kays has also served as an adjunct librarian to the College of the Desert and prior to leading the Palm Desert Library, she led the Cathedral City Library from 2003-2005.

In Palm Springs, Kays will lead a vibrant Library with a full schedule of programming and events for pre-schoolers to adults. “I am incredibly excited to join the Palm Springs Public Library and begin a new adventure leading a dynamic and much needed community resource with such a long tradition and history of serving the Coachella Valley,” said Kays. “I look forward to meeting my new staff and to serving the residents of Palm Springs.”

For more information about programs and events at the Library, visit http://www.palmspringslibrary.org.

Wine Book Club change of LOCATION & DATES

Due to the CLOSING of the PS Wine Shop in June 2012 we have had to temporarily move the Wine Book Club to the Library for the remaining summer. Due to this we have had to also change the date to a TUESDAY evening.

The remaining two meetings for the summer here at the Library will be on the following dates and the SUMMER OF MYSTERY book selections are:

Tuesday, July 24th @ 6:00 p.m. in TLC      

“The Chihuahua of the Baskervilles” by Esri Allbritten

&

Tuesday, August 28th @ 6:00 p.m. in TLC      

 “The Dante Club” by Matthew Pearl

 

A new location will be announced soon for the upcoming season, September 2012 – May 2013.