Millie Bird Honored at Senior Inspiration Awards

Palm Desert resident Millie Bird was among a dozen Coachella Valley seniors honored at the Senior Inspiration Awards Lunch today in Palm Desert. 

The 90 year old, who moved to the desert in 1975, spends her time as a book binder, helping restore books for people across the valley and around the world.   

While working at the University of Arizona Library in the early 1970s, Millie first found her passion for restoring and resurrecting books. 

The first book Millie bound was a bible for the woman who sold the Birds their home in Tuscon, Arizona. Over the past 42 years Millie has repaired and resurrected books for people all over the valley and around the world.

In addition to her work, Millie found the time to volunteer at Eisenhower Medical Library, Desert Regional Library and the College of the Desert Library. Millie was the second president of Friends of the College of the Desert Library and has chaired their annual book sale for the past forty years. 

Millie and her husband Harold have also been active volunteers with the Palm Desert Historical Society, receiving the Founder’s Day Award in 2000.  

“Millie’s dedication to the Friends of the Library and her rare talent for ‘book binding’ are well known throughout the Coachella Valley and beyond,” said Palm Desert City Councilmember Jean Benson. 

Millie still assists the Historical Society with their annual yard sale and auction.

 Other honorees were:  Ofelia Salas and Leslie “Les” Surlow (Riverside County), Harry and Judie Stone (Cathedral City), Jesus Mota (Coachella), Rose Hargand (Desert Hot Springs), Phoebe Biscow-Brown (Indian Wells), Ray Halliday (Indio), Ann Kosich (La Quinta), Mickey Shepard (Palm Springs) and Roslyn “Roz” Gayler (Rancho Mirage).