DHS Library celebrates first anniversary, receives grant from Berger Foundation

Sally Hedberg
·2 min read
Author Carol Mann poses with Sally Hedberg, coordinator, amd authors Joanne Hardy and Rachel Druten.
Author Carol Mann poses with Sally Hedberg, coordinator, amd authors Joanne Hardy and Rachel Druten.

The County of Riverside Desert Hot Springs Library will celebrate its first anniversary in the new state-of-the-art facility on June 25 from 3 to 5 p.m. The public is welcome to this free event, which will feature Mariachi Palm Springs Band and Mexican pastries.

The event will include a PowerPoint presentation about the programs and the people who made them possible. Among those honored will be the authors who graciously came from all over the desert to share their own experiences as writers. These include: Roger Moore, Carol Mann, Joanne Hardy, Rachel Druten, Irene Rodriguez, James Melton, Audrey Moe, Tod Goldberg, Marge Snell and Luis Fuerte.

These events covered such topics as medical hypnotherapy, the short story, romance, history, Mars, movie stars, gangsters, World War II and Huell Howser. The library community room has a capacity of 72, which allows plenty of interaction with the authors.

The County of Riverside Desert Hot Spring Library Library is located at 14-380 Palm Drive in Desert Hot Springs.
The County of Riverside Desert Hot Spring Library Library is located at 14-380 Palm Drive in Desert Hot Springs.

Lacking experience in this, my first challenge in the new library was to find authors for the series. As luck would have it, the Desert Sun was starting a monthly Literary Locals page where I was able to learn about local authors. It also gave me a venue to write stories about our events, which, in turn, brought folks from all over the valley and as far as Los Angeles to Desert Hot Springs. The library is fast becoming a community center and chamber of commerce, neither of which the town currently possesses.

Many wonderful opportunities have surfaced for our library. The Friends of the DHS Library have increased membership from six members to 149, and the friends group was bestowed the honor of being named Desert Hot Springs' nonprofit for the year 2022.

In addition, this month the library received a grant from the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation for $25,000. It’s part of the KESQ Spotlight Grant. This will allows the library to get the latest electronic equipment to further literacy, STEM programs and other enrichment programs through lectures, music and art.

The author series will resume Sept. 15.

All of this could not have happened without a hard-working library staff, our community liaisons and all the dedicated volunteers who run the bookstore, community book sales and help with programs.

Please join us for our first anniversary Fiesta at the Desert Hot Springs Library on Saturday, June 25 at 14-380 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs. For more information, call (760) 329-5926.

Sally Hedberg is the secretary and grant administrator for the Friends of the DHS Library.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: DHS Library celebrates anniversary, receives grant from Berger Foundation