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Dear Library Community,

It’s hard to believe we’re already in May! As we near the end of our 50th anniversary celebration on Goodwin Street, I want to thank everyone who has participated in the events and activities honoring this milestone. This month, we’re closing out our celebration with a special display in the Viewerie, highlighting the history and legacy of the Prescott Public Library in this cherished community. 

Check out the articles below for the latest details on the Fest in the West event and passport program so you won’t miss out on any of the fun. We’ll be adding new information regularly to the link, so be sure to check back often—things may change daily! While the full lineup of stage speakers and activities hasn't been posted yet, we're excited to announce that our very own Bud Garso will be emceeing the event. You can also look forward to a great mix of music from the '70s through today playing throughout the evening and live music performances inside the library. Here's what we have on the stage so far:

5:30 pm – Mayor, Phil Goode & City Manager, Dallin Kimble will speak

6:00 pm – Former Prescott Public Library staff recognition

6:30 pm -- Line Dancing with Mary Heller

7:15 pm – Friends of the Prescott Public Library recognition

7:30 pm – Kid’s bookmark and Youth Writing contest winners

As we honor our rich history, we extend a heartfelt invitation to all former library staff to join us for this special evening. Hearing from so many of you—through your thoughtful messages, warm memories, and shared stories—has been truly inspiring and has helped me gain a deeper understanding of just how beloved this library is. We’re also deeply grateful to our Friends of the Library, whose unwavering support has gone far beyond funding. Their advocacy and dedication have been vital in helping us fulfill our mission to serve the community.

While our official celebration of 50 years on Goodwin Street is wrapping up, this is just the beginning. We’ve been actively exploring new technologies, services, and programs to better serve the evolving needs of our community. Your feedback, along with our ongoing efforts, will guide us as we continue to grow. Our commitment is to provide you with the very best a library can offer—for the next 50 years and beyond.

We can’t wait to see you at the library for this unforgettable celebration!

Warm Regards,

Melissa Orr

Library Director

Prescott Public Library's 50th Anniversary culminates with our Fest in the West festival May 30, 5 - 8 pm. Join us for music and performances, food vendors, lawn games, Touch the Truck, a resource fair and a book sale by our amazing sponsor, The Friends of the Prescott Public Library!

Youth events on the back lawn from 5-7 pm, include Unlimited Bubbles, face painting by TAG (Teen Advisory Group), Russ "Squeaky" Sutton the Balloon Guy, Abundant Photo Booth, crafts with Prescott Art Docents, and more!

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Celebrate Prescott Public Library’s 50 years on Goodwin Street by collecting ink stamps in your Library Passport Book to commemorate your library adventures. From April 6 – May 30, passports will be available at the Ask a Librarian and Youth desks. Adults and youth can collect stamps from a library staff member by completing selected tasks.

On Friday, May 30th from 9 am - 8 pm, visit the library to redeem your passport stamps for tickets to our prize drawings. Every two stamps collected will earn 1 ticket to the drawing of your choice. Drawings include prizes for a range of ages and will take place Saturday, May 31. Winners will be contacted during the first week of June. Can’t make it to the library May 30? Two prizes (one for adults and one for youth) will be available for early entries from Sunday, May 25 through Thursday, May 29. This special passport adventure is presented with funding from the Friends of the Prescott Public Library and prizes donated by the community.

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On Thursday, May 22 at 6 pm, bestselling author Nancy E. Turner (These Is My Words) will take us behind the scenes of her writing process, sharing how she approaches the daunting task of creating a full-length novel, how dialogue can drive plot and character development, and her insights on writing about real people while steering clear of legal trouble. The event will conclude with an open Q&A session.

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One segment of our community whose members are often overlooked are those who are non-verbal and/or neurodivergent. Walking around the Youth Services area you might notice some changes: communication boards to help patrons with communication challenges express themselves, icons on the bookshelves, walls, and restroom doors to help identify everyday library items and spaces, and books with colorful AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) spine label stickers.

In addition, our Youth librarians have partnered with Fidget Pockets and Beyond the Label to establish More Choices for Voices, a new club that meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 6 pm for a special sensory story hour. All are welcome to come and enjoy an interactive story and participate in sensory activities.

And thanks to a generous donation from Desert Financial Credit Union, we have seven iPads with specialized AAC apps that will soon be available to the public for checkout. Stop by the Youth area to learn more about our new resources, programs, and communication boards!

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As part of our 50th Anniversary, we asked for your library story--and you shared! Here are some of your stories for your reading pleasure.

"My library has given me many hours of enjoyment by making books on my phone available to me. I am 85 years old, don't drive, & don't get around really well, so having my books come to me is such a blessing & joy! Thank you so much for making them available to me!" -Anonymous

"I'm an 8th grader at a 12th grade reading level, people think I'm weird and bully me a lot. The library is a safe space for me. The library helps me a lot. The books I read here help me get one step closer to an Anthropology or Epidemiology career." - A Teen

Patti writes, "I have loved libraries since I was a young girl. I went with my mother and sibling, and we took out books and this started my love affair with books. I was so happy to retire in Prescott because the library is great. I love the displays, new fiction and large print, easy for my aging eyes. I love the comfortable chairs and the Librarians. They have taught me so much about the Library. Thank you, Librarians. This building would only be a shell if it wasn't for you."

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Prescott Public Library volunteers were celebrated during National Volunteer Week, April 20-26 with a special Afternoon Tea event on Monday, April 21st. Over fifty volunteers attended and enjoyed tea, food, and sharing in each other’s company. 

Presidential Volunteer Awards were also presented to thirty-three volunteers. The President’s Volunteer Service Award is a special award to recognize the important role that volunteers play in organizations across America. Twenty-five volunteers were awarded bronze, six volunteers were awarded silver, and two volunteers were awarded gold. Included was a personalized certificate, a congratulatory letter signed by former President Biden, and a pin. 

Library staff would like to thank all attendees, and a special thank you to all 130 library volunteers for their hard work and dedication.  

Aspen, our library catalog, has not been providing accurate information regarding all the materials owned by the library. We apologize for this issue. YLN has been working with the vendor to correct the problems, and they have made some recent improvements.

If you do not find what you are looking for, we encourage you to call our Ask a Librarian Desk at 928.777.1526 and ask them to check our staff side of the database for holdings information. We will place a hold for you over the phone for any titles we own.

New software will soon be installed that will require a library card to use our computers and study rooms in the library.

Don't worry, getting a card is free and easy for all Yavapai County residents. Once you have your card, you will be able to reserve and confirm reservations for computers or study rooms just by scanning your card.

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Prescott Public Library will be closed Monday,

May 26 for Memorial Day. The library will reopen at 9 am on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

Your library without walls offers eBooks, online

resources, streaming video, and more, and is

available 24/7 at www.prescottlibrary.info

Thursdays, May 1 & 15

at 10 and 11 am

Register 

Tuesday, May 6 at 2 pm 

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Thursday, May 8 at 6 pm

Register

Friday, May 9 at 1 pm

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Tuesday, May 13 at 6 pm

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Thursday, May 15 at 5:30 pm

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Sunday, May 18 at 2 pm

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Thursday, May 22 at 6 pm

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Thursdays, May 1 and 8

at 4 pm 

Register

Saturday, May 3 at 10 am

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Thursday, May 15

at 3:30 pm 

Register

Friday, May 16 at 2 pm 

Register

Wednesday, May 21

at 6 pm

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Thursday, May 22

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