Latest Updates
Foundation Welcomes New Board President
Board Elects New President Jim Gray
The Palm Springs Public Library Foundation has elected Jim Gray as president of its board of directors for the current term, succeeding William “Bill” Wylie, who will continue on the board as immediate past president.
Most recently serving as co-chair on the board’s technology committee, Gray brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in the technology industry. Since retiring in 2022 and moving to Palm Springs full-time with his husband, Gray has become an active community volunteer, supporting organizations including DAP Health, Revivals, and the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Gray joined the PSPLF Board in 2024.
“The idea of being part of the Palm Springs Public Library Foundation and the New Chapter Capital Campaign was a fit for me in our first conversation,” Gray said about initial meetings with board members. “I highly value lifelong learning, and when I step into any library, I come alive with the excitement of the potential new things I’ll learn or experience.”
Gray will take the helm from Wylie, whose leadership helped strengthen the organization’s financial, governance, and committee framework, along with building key partnerships that have positioned the Foundation for continued growth, including one with the Library’s Board of Trustees.
As Board President, Gray will help guide the Foundation’s ongoing $7 million capital campaign supporting the $52 million transformation of the Palm Springs Public Library, which began during Wylie’s presidency.
The Community Comes Together to Build Our Library’s Next Chapter
As progress continues behind the construction fencing at the corner of Sunrise Way and Baristo Road in Palm Springs, community support continues to build for A New Chapter: Revitalizing Our Palm Springs Public Library. The capital campaign led by the Palm Springs Public Library Foundation (PSPLF) is experiencing the extraordinary generosity of a community that is now investing in one of Palm Springs’ most treasured public institutions.
The library’s $52 million transformation represents the largest investment in its history. Leadership funding came from the City of Palm Springs and the State of California, whose initial financing made this once-in-a-generation renovation possible.
Complementing that investment is the Foundation’s $7 million capital campaign, which is helping fund enhanced community spaces, technology, innovation, and a long-term endowment. Together, these investments represent a powerful public-private partnership,
demonstrating what can happen when government, philanthropy, businesses and residents invest in a shared vision.
Today’s growing list of supporters reflects the extraordinary commitment of individuals, businesses and foundations that believe in the library’s future. Founding support was provided
by the Friends of the Palm Springs Public Library, whose longstanding commitment will be recognized through the renaming of the J.C. Frey Building.
Pillar donors include the Jane Lykken Hoff Endowment Fund at the Inland Empire Community Foundation; Karla Kjellin-Elder and Jeff Elder; the Lamb Family Foundation, and an anonymous donor. At the Partner level, donors are Deborah Schwarz in memory of Joanne Schwarz; Eric and Vivian Chiel; Ken Pengelly and David Engen; Jim Gray, Bernard Rottner and Betty Rae Smith. Donors at this level also receive naming rights for their contributions.
Additional donors receiving naming rights at the Builder level include: Anderson Children’s Foundation; BIGHORN Cares; The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation, Sue Burnside; Mike Fedderson and Tom McClay; Ron Florance; Jack Fitzsimmons and Walter Gendell; Jessica and Gary Grace; Kevin E. Harrigan and Joel Preston; Amb. (Ret.) David Huebner and Dr. Duane McWaine; Sara Rutenberg; and Dr. Elizabeth Smalley and Garth Gilpin. With major support also coming from David Brinkman; Christy Cook and Michael Frankis; Terry Dean; Timothy Hohmeier; Ed McBride and Tad Green; Laura (Lolly) Mitchell; Jeffrey Norman; Priscilla Ostrowski; Wendy and Steve Rubin; Carol and David Tallichet; Steve Tobin, Johnny Krupa and
the Goodwin Family Memorial Trust; Kevin and Nancy Ventrudo; and William and Pamela Wylie.
More than 40 donations have been made at the Friend level, with several anonymous and in-kind gifts received at every giving level. Those early contributions unlocked the Palm Springs Public Library Board of Trustees’ commitment to match the campaign’s first $1 million raised, doubling the impact of donor support. Today, the campaign stands at $2.2 million since its official launch in October 2025. This generosity reflects a shared belief that libraries remain
essential places where people of every age can learn, explore, create and connect.
Behind the campaign is an active Foundation Board made up of 26 community leaders, along with a distinguished Campaign Honorary Committee whose members are helping expand awareness through their personal relationships, professional networks and businesses. Their leadership continues to inspire others to become part of the campaign.
Every contribution—whether from government, foundations, businesses or individual donors—is helping create a library designed for the future: one that expands opportunities for
learning, creativity, technology, and community connection while preserving one of Palm Springs’ most cherished civic landmarks. To learn more about the transformation and contributing to the next chapter of the Palm Springs Public Library, visit
nextchapter.pslibraryfoundation.org.
BOARD GETS FIRST LOOK INSIDE LIBRARY TRANSFORMATION
Members of the Palm Springs Public Library Foundation Board recently stepped inside the Palm Springs Public Library for hard-hat tours, becoming some of the first community leaders to see the dramatic transformation now underway inside the landmark building. City officials also toured the facility, currently under construction.
Palm Springs Public Library Foundation Capital Campaign Reaches $2 Million
Leadership gifts unlock match from Palm Springs Library Board of Trustees
For immediate release
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (January 12, 2026) — The Palm Springs Public Library Foundation (PSPLF) reached a major fundraising milestone, raising its first $1 million toward A New Chapter:
Revitalizing Our Palm Springs Public Library—successfully meeting the full $1 million match pledged by the Palm Springs Public Library Board of Trustees, which manages the Library Trust Fund and oversees long-term planning and facilities to ensure stewardship of public resources.
This $2 million marks a pivotal early success in the PSPLF’s $7 million goal that will support the community-driven elements of the Library’s $52 million transformation currently underway.
With this match complete, every dollar raised to date has effectively accelerated progress on enhanced spaces, innovative programming, and a long-term endowment to ensure sustainability
for future generations.
Major donors helped make the match possible, including Friends of the Palm Springs Public Library; the Jane Lykken Hoff Endowment Fund at the Inland Empire Community Foundation; Karla Kjellin-Elder & Jeff Elder; the Lamb Family Foundation; Jim Gray & Bernard Rottner and Betty Rae Smith; David Engen & Ken Pengelly; and Deborah Schwarz. Plus, an anonymous gift of
$100,000, alongside dozens of other donations from $50-$50,000, underscores the confidence in the campaign’s vision.
“We are deeply grateful to the initial donors who stepped forward to lead this important fundraising effort. We are excited for the broader community to get involved as we write the next chapter for our invaluable community resource,” said Bill Wylie, PSPLF Board President.
A New Chapter supports enhancements that elevate the Palm Springs Public Library, including flexible community gathering spaces, maker space, expanded learning areas, outdoor reading
gardens, teen center, and a $5 million endowment that will provide long-term financial stability.
Construction on the Library’s transformation is underway, with reopening anticipated in 2027. For more information about A New Chapter capital campaign, including naming opportunities
and ways to contribute, visit nextchapter.pslibraryfoundation.org.
# # #
The Palm Springs Public Library Foundation is a philanthropic partner of the Library, raising private gifts from
individuals, corporations, and foundations to support capital improvements and long-term needs.
How you can help write Palm Springs library’s next chapter
DESERT SUN, "Your Voice" (December 7, 2025) By Bill Wylie, PSPLF Board President
Anyone spending time in Palm Springs, even those visiting for a long weekend, soon realizes that our city is one of personal expression, inclusion and goodwill. And those of us who reside here also understand that this is a community of exceptional generosity. So many social causes and cultural institutions thrive thanks to our community’s exceptional spirit of giving.
The Palm Springs Public Library is now such an institution — with vital programming and purpose — seeking the assistance of this area’s citizens. After 50 years, the main library building, designed by the mid-century modern architect William F. Cody, closed for major renovations in August. The end result will be a full reimagining of the library located next to Sunrise Park.
As the library’s philanthropic partner, the Palm Springs Public Library Foundation raises private support from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund capital improvements and long-term financial support. Today, that means focusing the generosity and civic pride of our community to raise $7 million for the library’s renovation, plus establish an endowment to sustain innovation and future growth. Our Palm Springs community deserves nothing less.
Some people may question the relevancy of libraries in the internet age, but our library is a hub of activity that is central to the support our city provides its residents and visitors. Our library offers children and teen programs, lectures and book clubs, Wi-Fi access and computers for public use, the largest collection of movie and television DVDs in the valley and an excellent CD music collection, even activities such as mahjong and jigsaw puzzles.
The library serves as a cooling center in the summer and a polling place during elections. More than 700 passports were processed last year. Diapers and baby wipes are passed out twice a month to families in need. Nearly 137,000 people visited our library in the last fiscal year, and 418,000 items were checked out. This is all before the renovation!
Our library serves all segments and social strata of our community and is truly a key component of our city’s 'central nervous system.' It defines the word 'public.' We are fortunate; not all cities can boast the same.
The library renovation, as envisioned, will strengthen the infrastructure therein, polish an architectural jewel on the exterior, set it off with brilliant landscaping and lighting, and most importantly, transform the interior space so that the needs of our community can be creatively met by our exceptional library leadership and staff.
I encourage you to make your way to our newly launched capital campaign website, nextchapter.pslibraryfoundation.org, to see what’s on the horizon and discover opportunities to contribute to the extent that you can. If you choose to make a legacy gift on behalf of a family member, a friend, or a community figure, we welcome that, but there are meaningful roles for each of us to play in this campaign, and I encourage you to find where you fit into this effort.
On behalf of the Palm Springs Public Library Foundation, thank you all for your commitment to help realize our transformative mission to create a library for the next 50 years.
Palm Springs Public Library Foundation Launches Capital Campaign to Fund “A New Chapter”
Community donations will be doubled by Trustees’ $1 million match
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (October 27, 2025) — The Palm Springs Public Library Foundation (PSPLF) has officially launched a capital campaign titled “A NEW CHAPTER: Revitalizing Our Palm Springs Public Library.”
Community support will contribute to the transformation of a dynamic, sustainable institution that will serve Palm Springs as a cornerstone of learning, creativity and connection for decades to come.
Construction is already underway following the library’s September 18 groundbreaking, marking the largest investment in the library’s history—a $52 million renovation project combining $45 million in secured government funding with the goal of raising $7 million in private donations.
To inspire early giving, the Palm Springs Public Library Board of Trustees pledged to match the first $1 million, doubling the impact of every gift. With $650,000 in early commitments already secured from local donors, Foundation leaders say the campaign is off to a promising start. “Palm Springs has a long tradition of generosity and civic pride,” said Bill Wylie, board president,
PSPLF. “Our community has always championed the institutions that make this city unique, and our library is definitely one of them.”
Knowledge meets innovation in our library’s next chapter with the modernization of the 35,000 square-foot main library building, designed by William F. Cody, and the 4,000-square-foot JC Frey Building. Securing private support now will ensure that the community-driven vision for a library of the future—including an event hall, maker space, teen center and outdoor reading gardens—is part of the initial build.
Donors’ extraordinary commitments will be recognized through naming opportunities throughout the renovated library. In addition to enhancing the new spaces, contributions will seed an
endowment that ensures sustainability, innovation and continued access for future generations. Gifts at all levels contribute to a las ng legacy of literacy, lifelong learning and the realization of a world class library accessible to all.
The revitalized library is expected to reopen in summer 2027.
The Foundation encourages residents, businesses and philanthropic partners to join in this once-in-a-generation opportunity. To learn more or make a gift, visit https://nextchapter.pslibraryfoundation.org/ .
# # #
The Palm Springs Public Library Foundation is the Library’s philanthropic partner, raising private gifts from individuals,
corporations, and foundations to support capital improvements and long-term needs.