Tag: library

This I Have Learned: In Praise of Libraries

Mary Jo Bellner Swartzberg Ever since I was a little girl, I knew that the word “library” meant a place of discovery and learning. The word “library” comes from the Latin word “liber,” meaning book. Loosely translated, the word “library” would then be a place to find books. Have libraries always been around? When were…

Recognizing Our Library Volunteers with 20+ Years of Service!

Sharon Scanlan Shortly after SaddleBrooke opened, almost 35 years ago, several forward-thinking volunteers started our first library! Today there are three libraries, which have become one of SaddleBrooke’s highest-rated amenities—lending more than 50,000 books and DVDs a year! Most of our volunteers are “aspirational librarians” who love books and enjoy our patrons! Recently, at our…

Get a Clue at the SaddleBrooke Libraries

Renee Mazin Was it Colonel Mustard in the library with a candlestick? We don’t have a “clue,” but we do know that the library has been a place of mystery, knowledge, refuge, and romance. Many authors have recognized the library’s allure and used it as a setting for their books. SaddleBrooke community libraries offers you…

Local History Books Now Available Online

Robert S. Simpson In the past three years, SaddleBrooke author Robert (Bob) Simpson has written three books on area history, all available in the DesertView and SaddleBrooke libraries. His original From the Cañada del Oro to the Tortolitas (2019) has long been sold out, and a print version of his recent The History of Oracle Junction,…

Cool Books for Hot Summer Days

Janet Fabio What better way to beat the heat than to curl up with a good book set in a cold climate? Your SaddleBrooke Community Libraries offer a variety of fiction and nonfiction books to enjoy during the summer. Your first thought might be books set in Alaska, Iceland, or the Antarctic. And, indeed, we have…

Volunteers Kept the Libraries Going During the Pandemic

Sharon Scanlan, Cathy Schaber, Bernice Christian, and Laura Benson Despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, all three libraries never wavered in offering outstanding library service to the community. We could not have done this without a core group of very dedicated volunteers who were willing to work, even with all the restrictions and changes.…

Friends of SaddleBrooke Libraries

Bucks 4 Books Raffle Helps Fund SaddleBrooke Libraries Barry Swartzberg Many SaddleBrooke residents assume that because the three SaddleBrooke community libraries are housed in the SaddleBrooke and MountainView clubhouses and DesertView, the libraries are funded through our homeowners’ dues. In reality, the HOAs provide space, shelving, and computers for the libraries, but the books, large-print…

Bucks 4 Books Raffle—Good for You and Our Libraries

Carol Conway The Friends of SaddleBrooke Libraries’ Bucks 4 Books Raffle raises money to buy new books, DVDs, and audio books for the SaddleBrooke community libraries. It’s a win-win! Half of the money will fund the libraries, and the other half will be distributed in cash prizes to seven lucky winners. To date, Elise Grimes,…

Welcome (or Welcome Back) to Your Libraries

Janet Fabio Now that we are able to socialize again, you may discover that you have a lot of new neighbors in your unit, and they’re learning about everything SaddleBrooke has to offer, including our libraries. The SaddleBrooke Community Libraries are open again, and it’s time to remember why they are such a heavily used amenity…