The people who make Palm Springs like no place else
Chances are if you’ve been to the Palm Springs Public Library, you’ve seen Nancy. She is affectionately known by staff at the library as “The Shelf Whisperer” due to her encyclopedic knowledge of the library shelves she has volunteered to organize for the past 41 years. “She loves books, reading books, holding the books in her hands,” says Julie Warren, library services and public relations manager. “She has no use for audiobooks or eBooks. She loves writing letters by hand, with a fountain pen and ink. She says everyone laughs at her and says she gives Luddites a good name!” Get to know Nancy below.
NAME: Nancy (AKA The Shelf Whisperer)
AGE: 89
OCCUPATION: Homemaker
NEIGHBORHOOD: Twin Palms
HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN THE DESERT? 43 years
WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE? I always wanted to live in Palm Springs.
DO YOU HAVE FAMILY HERE? No
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR IN THE DESERT? Summer
HOW DO YOU BEAT THE HEAT? Either by living in my swimming pool or staying inside and only going out after sunset.
DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY BY WHICH YOU LIVE? I am a Luddite at heart! I have no use for social media or a computer or any digital device.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT? Le Vallauris Restaurant
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING OUR COMMUNITY? There are too many people, it’s getting too big, and there is too much construction!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO OR PLACE TO GO? It used to be watching foreign films at the Camelot. But now it’s volunteering at the library.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL PEOPLE ABOUT PALM SPRINGS THAT THEY MAY NOT KNOW? Not everyone who lives in Palm Springs is old and not everyone is rich.
WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Drinking as much wine and eating as much ice cream as I wanted during the pandemic (but not together)!
