In the summer of 2024, the City of Palm Desert will assume control of the county library at 73-300 Fred Waring Drive, situated on the College of the Desert Campus. This transition will mark Palm Desert as the third city in the Coachella Valley to manage a municipal library.
The City of Palm Desert announced on its website that it would commence operations of the library on July 1, 2024. The facility will temporarily close from May 1 to June 30, 2024, for an interior makeover and to facilitate a smooth transition of services.
The Riverside County Library System’s website reveals that the Palm Desert Library first opened its doors in 1962 at Portola Avenue before relocating to the College of Desert campus in 1995. The present location, a substantial 43,000 square-foot building, was erected through a collaboration between the city, county and college and was inaugurated in 1996.
On October 12, 2023, according to another announcement by the city, the City Council unanimously approved an independent municipal library and library services separate from the Riverside County Library System. This decision is expected to grant the library access to an annual budget of $2.6 million for service enhancements.
Gary Shaffer has been appointed as director of the library by the city authorities as per their announcement. Shaffer brings with him rich experience from his previous stints as director at libraries in Glendale, California and Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also has additional experience from roles in libraries across Brooklyn, Los Angeles and Sacramento. To assist in shaping a vision for Palm Desert’s library future, the city is collaborating with a library consulting group. Other strategies include forging partnerships with local libraries and working with a citizen group to formulate a short-term plan ensuring seamless operational transition.
As part of its community engagement efforts, according to another announcement by the city authorities, they are seeking feedback from community members. An online survey has been launched to gather questions, concerns or ideas from the public.
