About the Local News Index 

The Local News Index was a database in which articles of local interest (mostly from The Desert Sun) were indexed by the Library from 1983 until 1999. Some earlier items may be included. It is not currently being updated, but it is helpful when looking for citations for a particular article or subject area of local interest.

The Local News Index includes some articles from The Press Enterprise. The Palm Springs Library does not have access to articles from The Press Enterprise. To obtain copies of any item(s) from that newspaper, please contact the Riverside Public Library at (951) 826-5201, or visit the Riverside Public Library's website.

The Palm Springs Public Library does not maintain a complete index of any local periodical. If a citation for the item you are seeking does not appear in our database, you may want to contact these local publications directly:

• The Desert Sun
• Los Angeles Times Archives
• Palm Springs Life
• The Press Enterprise

You may access The Desert Sun's News Archive where articles are offered in full-text for a fee. Accessing the Past contains digitized collections of numerous resources including The Desert Sun (spanning years 1934-1989).

You may also request copy and research services (for fees, see the Research Services section on the Policies and Services page) directly from the Library's microfilm for all years of The Desert Sun (beginning in the 1930s), and for items printed in publications not available in the online databases.You may also utilize our Microfilm reader or Accessing the Past on your own without a fee.

Search Tips for the Local News Index

If you are searching for a personal name or obituary, try using the last name only, then scroll through the results list.

If too many results appear, limit your search by including a first name after the last name and a comma.

• Example: Bogert,Frank (NOT Bogert, Frank or Frank Bogert)

If you include more than one term in your search, it will be searched as a phrase. We suggest performing single-term and phrase searches only.

• Example: City Hall (NOT City Hall Palm Springs)

If you are searching for information about a residential or commercial building, try using the street number only.

• Example: 300 (NOT 300 S Sunrise Way)

If no results appear, searching for a property name, street name (excluding "drive," "street," etc), celebrity occupant surname, or architect surname may yield additional results.

• Example: Villa Hermosa
• Example: Pebble Beach
• Example: Holden
• Example: Frey

Research Services (Including Obituary and Article Requests)

Please visit the Research Services section on the Policies and Services page for information on how to request an obituary or article from The Desert Sun.

Contact Us

Email: library.info@palmspringsca.gov
Phone: (760) 322-READ
Address: Palm Springs Public Library, ATTN: Reference Librarian/Obit Request, 300 South Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262