Educational Outreach
We are proud to host a group of 20 students and their teachers at each of our meetings. These guests receive a copy of the featured author’s book in advance of the luncheon meeting and participate in a special one-hour discussion with the author, followed by lunch and the author’s presentation. THIS PROGRAM IS FACILITATED THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF OUR SPONSORS AND STUDENT BENEFACTORS.
We have hosted students from the following schools:
- Amistad High School
- California State University, San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus
- Cathedral City High School
- Coachella Valley High School
- College of the Desert
- Desert Hot Springs High School
- Desert Mirage High School
- Indio High School
- La Quinta High School
- Palm Desert High School
- Palm Springs High School
- Palm Valley School
- Rancho Mirage High School
- Shadow Hills High School
- Summit High School
- West Shores High School
- Xavier College Preparatory
The program is coordinated by LSD Board Member, Danielle Granath We are proud to say that many of the authors tell us that the time spent with the students was the highlight of their visit to the desert.
Library Outreach
Last season, we provided $37,500 in grants to the Coachella Valley libraries.
THIS PROGRAM IS FACILITATED THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF OUR SPONSORS AND LIBRARY BENEFATORS. WE ARE PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL TO OUR LIBRARY BENEFACTORS AND SPONSIRS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THIS INITIATIVE.
It enabled the following programs:
Cathedral City Library: The funds will be used to purchase items that we can use for S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) based programs for children, and sensory items for children who are neurodivergent.
Coachella Library: The funds will be used to purchase materials to help advance bilingualism in our community and help English learners advance from non-fiction "How to" books to fiction that will improve their language skills and ability to explore new worlds in a new tongue.
College of the Desert Library: The grant funds will support the acquisition of eTextbooks, eBooks, streaming films, and other digital learning materials that directly support course curricula and promote literacy, information literacy, and critical thinking among College of the Desert students.
Desert Hot Springs Library: The funds will be used for digital literacy programming for youth. This support would allow the library to offer hands-on programs focused on foundational and emerging digital skills, such as basic computer use, online safety, research and media literacy, coding fundamentals, and creative technology.
Indio Library: To purchase current titles in the Fiction genre for adults, current, popular titles for the Young Adult genre, a book-binding machine to repair books with damaged spines and to purchase additional copies of books chosen for the Book Club to ensure all attendees have the same access to the chosen book for each month.
Lake Tamarisk Library: The grant will support, Teen Space Improvements — Creating a comfortable, dedicated area for teens helps encourage reading, studying, creativity, and positive social interaction. Updated seating, flexible tables, and improved layout would make the library a true hub for youth engagement.
La Quinta Library: The LSD grant provides the summer reading program for children, Spanish classes and creative writing programs for children and adults..
Mecca Library: The funds will be used to purchase items necessary to create a safe and supportive learning space for patrons and the it will also fund two new book clubs.
Palm Desert Library: The LSD grant will fund the seven-week summer reading program features linkage with Men’s FIFA World Cup championship with weekly sports themes, games, book giveaways .
Palm Springs Library: Funds are used to support the summer reading program serving almost 300 children with book distributions totaling over 1600 books.
Rancho Mirage Library: The grant will be used to bolster the E book offerings through the Libby app as the Riverside County Library system has reduced the service in the branch.
Thousand Palms Library: The grant will be used to introduce one new interactive program each month for children, teens, and adults. Each program will include a free book giveaway to encourage home library building and continued reading engagement.
The program is coordinated by LSD Board Member, Christine Metz.