Sedona Public Library in the Village is open and offering most library services; however, the browsing collection is not available at this time. 
 
We are encouraging patrons to place holds for pickup at the VOC library. Placing a hold is easy. Here are answers to your frequently asked questions about holds.
 
How do I place a hold (aka reserve) on a library item?
 
You may place your hold online at sedonalibrary.org. Log in to your library account with your 14 digit library card number (no spaces) and your 4 digit PIN.  If you do not know your PIN, you may request a link to reset it or call the library. Once you have located an item to request, click Place Hold. Before you place your hold, make sure you have selected the format you want. If you would like to pick up your hold in the Village, select VOC as your pickup location.

Can I call the library to place a hold?
If you need assistance placing a hold, please call the library. 
 
How long will it take to get my hold?
 
It depends on many factors, for instance: Is the item available and on the shelf at another library? How many copies are available in the Yavapai Library Network (YLN)?  Which is the owning library? How often does the library send out holds to other libraries? Is the item popular?
 
If my hold is in transit, can I pick it up today?
 
In transit means the hold is on its way from another library. It could take two days or two weeks. You will be notified when your hold has arrived and is available for pickup.
 
How will I be notified when my hold has arrived?
 
You will be notified by email or phone when your hold is ready for pickup.  If your email address or phone number has changed, it is important to update your patron account. Please call or stop by the library to update this information.
  
How long will you keep my hold?
 
Once you have been notified that your hold is available, it will remain on the hold shelf for ten days. If you no longer want the hold, please remove it from your account.  Call the library if you need assistance removing a hold. There may be others waiting for this item.
 
Where is my hold?  I have been waiting for a long time and have not moved in the queue.
 
The item you have requested may be missing. Your hold will not be removed for one year in case the item turns up. You may have requested a new item that is in process and shows as “available soon.” It never hurts to check the status of your holds. Perhaps only one library owns the item you have requested.
 
How can I keep my holds from arriving at the same time or when I am out of town?
 
You can suspend your holds.  The Suspend Holds feature allows you to pause your holds without losing your place in line.
 
If you need assistance locating a title, placing a hold, renewing your checked out titles, receiving your PIN, or updating your account information, you may find it easier and quicker to call the library. For more information about library services in the Village, call 928-284-1603 or email voc@sedonalibrary.org. We’re here to help.

We are pleased to announce that Sedona Public Library in the Village (SPL-V) is now open five days a week. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 
As we are gradually reopening, please know that our top priority is to provide a healthy and safe environment for everyone.  Wearing masks is required to enter the Library. Maintain social distancing when waiting to pick up your holds or when you are inside the building. Thank you for your cooperation.
 
The following library services are available in the Village:
 
HOLDS PICKUP AT THE DOOR:  Thank you for your patience as holds may take a little longer than usual to arrive. When you have been notified that your holds are available and you are ready to pick them up, come to the door and give us your name. While it is not necessary to call in advance, a phone call expedites the process if you are picking up several items. If your call is not answered, please call back to speak to staff. Do not leave a message.
 
COMPUTER USE: We currently have three computers for public use. Computers are available on a first come, first served basis. Computer sessions are limited to 30 minutes.
 
PRINT, SCAN, FAX, COPY:  You may print from a patron computer, scan documents, and make copies using the copy machine. Cost is 10 cents per page for black and white copies. We do not have a color printer. Cost to fax is $1 per page.  Please have the correct change. We do not accept credit cards.
 
WI-FI ACCESS:  If you bring your own laptop, you are welcome to use the Wi-Fi outside. Please see staff for password.
 
BROWSING COLLECTION: Our browsing collection is not available at this time. You may use a patron computer to search the online catalog and place holds. Place your holds online at sedonalibrary.org, or call the library if you need assistance. If you prefer browsing in the stacks, we encourage you to visit the main library in West Sedona.  While you are there, stop by the Friends of the Sedona Library used bookstore in the house adjacent to the Library.  The FOL bookstore offers a nice selection of books, movies, music and more. They have cool bookmarks too.
 
BOOK RETURN: The book return located outside is intended for use after hours. If you are using the book return at the main library or SPL-V or are returning library materials to another library in the Yavapai Library Network, your items may not be checked in right away. Each library has a policy to quarantine items.
 
Thanks for your continuing support of library services in the Village of Oak Creek. We appreciate your kind words, delicious treats, and donations directed to SPL-V. The masks you have donated have been put to good use.
 
Check the Library’s website at sedonalibrary.org for updates. 

On August 30 I celebrated my ten-year anniversary as the manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village (SPL-V).  In this article I am going to share ten major insights about the library from the past ten years.

1. RESOURCES: I am still amazed by the number of free resources the library offers: print and non-print books, CD books, DVDs, Playaways, periodicals and more.

2. READING INTERESTS: The reading tastes of library patrons are so diverse. Thanks to suggestions from patrons, I read more biographies and memoirs.

3. CONNECTIONS: The library is a great place to meet people. I enjoy assisting our regular patrons and look forward to the return of our part-time residents. I like opportunities to work with librarians, speakers and authors.

4. SPL BOARD:  Board members volunteer their time and expertise to ensure that the library is providing quality services for the community.

5. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS: The library staff works hard to assist library customers and support each other.  My colleagues are never too busy to answer questions. Dedicated volunteers keep the library running smoothly.
 
6. SUPPORT: I have learned from two outstanding mentors: Virginia Volkman, Library Director, and Dotte Vande Linde, the first manager of SPL-V. I appreciate working with Marie Olivarez, assistant manager of SPL-V.

7. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: The library encourages lifelong learning and professional development. Over the years, I have attended local and national library conferences. During these past few months, I have taken advantage of online resources and meetings to continue to grow professionally.

8. FRIENDS OF THE SEDONA LIBRARY: My FOL membership pays off.  FOL generously provides funding for our popular Arizona Humanities programs. The FOL bookstore offers a wide selection of used books at great prices.  They have really cool bookmarks, too.

9.  DONORS: Our patrons and visitors support the library and appreciate having a library in the Village.

10.  BENEFITS OF LIBRARY CARD: My Sedona library card gives me access to 43 libraries in the Yavapai Library Network.  It’s easy to place holds on items and have them delivered for pickup at the VOC library. I can use my card to access online databases and to stream free movies from Kanopy. I like the convenience of being able to return items to the 24/7 book return when the library is closed.

Don’t have a library card? September is Library Card Sign-up Month. Getting a library card is free and easy.  Sign up online at sedonalibrary.org; then, stop by the main library or the VOC library with your photo ID and proof of residency to activate your card. If you have a library card but haven’t used it in a while, contact the library to update your contact information. If you have lost your card, we are waiving the $5 replacement fee in September.

For more information about library services and programs, call 928-284-1603 or email voc@sedonalibrary.org. Thank you for supporting library services in the Village of Oak Creek. 

There’s no better time to read than the present.  In fact, many people have shared that they have been reading more than ever during the pandemic. When picking up his holds at the Village library, one patron commented, “I have never read so many books in my life!”

If you need a good read, look no further than these recommendations offered by library patrons. 

Mike: For an informative book about the war on terror, I suggest reading “The Field of Fight” by Lt. General Michael T. Flynn and Michael Leeden. 

Janice:  If you like nonfiction, I highly recommend “On the Clock” by Emily Guendelsberger. This book’s subtitle illuminates the topic:  “What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane.”  

Sara: I decided to revisit the classics:  “The Grapes of Wrath” and “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck.  

Marv:  I am hooked on the author Roald Dahl. I recently checked out “James and the Giant Peach” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

Kevin:  “American Dirt” by Jeanine Cummins will keep you turning pages. The protagonist and her son encounter harrowing experiences as they flee a drug cartel in Mexico. Will they make it to the U.S.?

Cheryl:  “The Red Lotus” by Chris Bohjalian is a thriller set in present-day Vietnam.  I also recommend “The Flight Attendant” and “The Sandcastle Girls” by this author. 

Tom:  My favorite author is James Lee Burke. I am anxiously awaiting the release of his new book “A Private Cathedral,” the latest in the Dave Robicheaux series. 

Carol:  A really fun book that I enjoyed is “Hotel Babylon” by Imogen Edwards-Jones. It’s all about the nitty-gritty of working in a five-star hotel in London. 

Deb: I have two recommendations:  “Still Life” by Louise Penny and “What to Eat” by Marion Nestle. 

Paul:  I am a fan of the Gray Man series written by Mark Greaney. The Gray Man character has a reputation of being the ultimate assassin.  The most recent book in this series is “One Minute Out.” 

Eddie: “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” by Kim Michele Richardson was interesting to me. The novel is inspired by the actual blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s.  

Diane: I am reading the Kevin Kerney series by Michael McGarrity. In each book, Kerney investigates a mystery set in contemporary New Mexico. Start with “Tularosa,” the first book in the series. 

Gary: The author James Patterson never disappoints.  I am currently reading “Blindside” featuring Detective Michael Bennett. 

These titles are available in various formats from the Yavapai Library Network.  If you need assistance placing a hold, please contact the Library.  

Sedona Public Library in the Village is at Suite 51 A in Bell Rock Plaza.  For updated information about the Village library, visit the library’s website at www.sedonalibrary.org. Thank you for supporting library services in the Village of Oak Creek.  

​With library buildings being closed or having restricted hours, many readers are turning to digital collections. To meet this increasing demand for ebooks and downloadable audiobooks, the Yavapai Library Network is now partnering with five Arizona libraries and networks to offer 75,000 unique digital books to choose from, including titles in a broad range of subjects. To learn more about this new service, please enjoy this column written by Andrea Lhotka, Reference Librarian at Sedona Public Library.
 
Thanks to a new feature from OverDrive, libraries across the state can offer their available (not checked out or on hold) digital titles to patrons from other parts of the state through a reciprocal lending agreement. Sedona Public Library cardholders can now borrow OverDrive titles from five partnering Arizona libraries and networks: Tempe Public Library, Yuma County Library District, Cochise County Library District, the Little Libraries That Could Consortium, and the Southwest Valley Library Consortium.
 
You can check out your digital books using a web browser or with the Libby or OverDrive app on a mobile device. Checkouts at one partner library do not impact limits at another partner library. There may be other lending guidelines determined by the partner library.
 
Browsing a partner library’s digital collection is easy. From a web browser or the OverDrive app, simply select a library from the partner library list and sign in using your card number. From the Libby app, select Add a Library, search for and select one of our partnering libraries, and then sign in. If you need help, contact the reference desk at 928-282-7714, ext. 114.
 
By taking advantage of our expanded digital collection, you might find an available title that you’re on hold for in Yavapai County. For example, I searched for “Where the Crawdads Sing” and found an available copy from the Yuma County Library District. By checking it out, I can avoid waiting in line for a copy from the Yavapai Library Network. Note that only titles that are not checked out will be visible in our partner libraries’ OverDrive collections, and you will not be able to place holds on digital materials from outside Yavapai County. Check our partner libraries’ collections often for newly available titles.
 
OverDrive ebooks and downloadable audiobooks from the Library are free, and you can access them 24/7 from the comfort of your home. If you’re new to OverDrive and need help getting started, contact the Library or visit our website at www.sedonalibrary.org. 
 
Sedona Public Library in the Village is at Suite 51 A in Bell Rock Plaza.  Library hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You have the option of returning materials from the Yavapai Library Network to the book drop box available at the Village location. Please return materials inside if the library is open.
 
If you have questions or need assistance, call 928-284-1603 or email voc@sedonalibrary.org.  Thank you for supporting library services in the Village of Oak Creek. 

​

​We miss baseball!  My husband Gary and I are lifelong baseball fans. There may be no crying in baseball, but there is crying when you don’t have your favorite sport. We always attend spring training in Goodyear, and when it was suddenly cancelled, we were at a loss. Since the regular season has yet to begin, we decided to watch our favorite baseball movies to fill the void.
 
Here are a few suggestions for baseball movies available from the Library. Gary is a student of the game, so he provided the content. I hope you enjoy Gary’s narrative with titles of baseball movies. How many baseball films can you find?  To challenge you, I intentionally omitted capitalization and punctuation of movie titles. The answer appears in the last paragraph of this article.
 
A virus has robbed me of the game of my youth. I have to close my eyes and force myself to see my field of dreams. From the bad news bears stumbling around the sandlot to the minor leagues of bull durham, all the way to the major league, baseball players are in a league of their own.
 
I conjure up images of the show. In Cleveland, they bang the drum slowly in homage to America’s greatest pastime. I so miss the numbers of moneyball, from eight men out to 61 to 42 and mr. 3,000. I miss those damn yankees, and I still  cry during the pride of the yankees. The rookie had his moment, and the natural could knock the lights out of the park with one swing of the bat.
 
Last fall we took a tour of Fenway Park.  It was not a game day, so the Green Monster stood lonely without fans, as if a harbinger of our future. We also visited the National Baseball Hall of Fame, in Cooperstown, where we honored the presence of the babe, cobb, and mr. baseball.  None of the greats had much trouble with the curve.
 
We eagerly await next year because we know it happens every spring. The scout will advise us of the next million dollar arm; then, we will truly believe in the angels in the outfield.  I close my eyes and whisper, “For the love of the game. For the love of the game. For the love of the game.”
 
All films mentioned above are available in DVD format from the Yavapai Library Network, with the exception of “It Happens Every Spring.”  This 1949 comedy starring Ray Milland is available through interlibrary loan.  There is a $3.00 fee if an ILL comes from a library outside Arizona. If you need assistance placing a hold, please contact the Library.
 
We may not be able to take you out to the ball game, so buy your peanuts and Cracker Jack, sit back, relax, and enjoy a movie about America’s favorite pastime.  It’s not like being at the ballpark, but it’s better than no baseball.  By the way, there are 25 different baseball films mentioned in this article. Play ball!

The celebration of Mother’s Day inspired me to write about strong women and their contributions to society. There are many wonderful books about amazing women from the past to the present, and here are a few of my reading recommendations:
 

• “Vanished Arizona,” by Martha Summerhayes:  The author was a refined New England woman who entered the Arizona Territory in 1874 as the young bride of an Army lieutenant. She gave birth to the first Anglo child born at Fort Apache, where the native women took her under their care. In her memoir, Summerhayes writes about her struggles adapting to life on the harsh frontier and about how she eventually learned to appreciate living in the Arizona Territory.

 

• “Hidden Figures,” by Margot Lee Shetterly: This true story set in the 1960s in   Virginia is about the important contributions of African American women to NASA. Katherine Johnson, one of the women portrayed in “Hidden Figures,” recently passed away. Johnson’s mathematical calculations helped synch Project Apollo’s Lunar Module with the lunar-orbiting Command and Service Module. In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Johnson, who was then 97, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

 

• “The Glass Castle,” by Jeannette Walls: This memoir recounts the story of the author’s childhood growing up in a dysfunctional family. Her father drank, and her mother did not want the responsibility of raising children. The family moved frequently, and the children often went hungry. Despite a challenging childhood, Walls found success while her parents chose to remain homeless. The beginning of the book will compel you to keep reading.

 

• “Whiskey in a Teacup,” by Reese Witherspoon: Read this book to discover the meaning of the title. In 2016, the Academy-Award-winning actress and producer established Hello Sunshine, a company dedicated to female authorship and storytelling. Reese Witherspoon is an advocate and activist for women’s issues across the globe.

 

• “Becoming,” by Michelle Obama:  In her memoir, Michelle Obama shares stories about growing up on the South Side of Chicago, meeting her husband, balancing her career and motherhood, and being married to one of the most important leaders in the world. I recommend listening to the audiobook read by the author—Michelle Obama will make you feel like you have found a new friend.

 

• “Deep Creek,” by Pam Houston:  Houston describes her everyday life at her ranch in Colorado and shares how the ranch has become her sanctuary.  Feeling a deep connection to the earth, she expresses her concerns about protecting our fragile environment. Houston is a teacher, award-winning author, and the co-founder and creative director of the literary nonprofit Writing by Writers.

 
The books listed above are available in various formats from the Yavapai Library Network. If you need assistance placing a hold, please contact the Library.

Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Visit the Library’s website at sedonalibrary.org/donate to make an online donation. You may direct your donation to Sedona Public Library in the Village.  Thank you for supporting library programs and services in the Village of Oak Creek. 

​With the temporary suspension of in-person access to library services, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the many digital resources available at your library. Borrow ebooks, downloadable audiobooks, digital magazines, and streaming videos from the Library for FREE.
 
You can access Sedona Public Library’s digital collections from your ereader, tablet, smartphone, or computer. All you need to get started is your library card and your PIN.
 
Here are a few of the most popular digital services offered by the Library, all accessible on our website, www.sedonalibrary.org.
 
OVERDRIVE is a free service that lets you borrow ebooks and downloadable audiobooks from your library. Whether you use OverDrive’s classic app or their streamlined Libby app to check out books, the Library’s OverDrive digital collection offers many great features:  downloads of up to six titles at a time, no late fees, and immediate reading of ebooks or listening to audiobooks. OverDrive for Kids is also available.
 
TUMBLEBOOKS offers ebooks, videos, games, and more for kids. Books are carefully selected and include titles for early readers, chapter books, books for advanced readers, children’s classics, award winners, and best sellers.
 
EBOOK CENTRAL by ProQuest provides ebook titles in academic subject areas including humanities, science, and business.  Once you have signed in with your library card and PIN, you will discover scholarly ebooks in multiple subjects from world-renowned publishers.
 
RBDIGITAL brings you thousands of fiction and nonfiction downloadable audiobooks, ebooks, and digital versions of over 130 popular and specialty magazines to read on almost any device. There are titles for all interests and ages. RBdigital has new and backlist issues of popular magazines with no holds, no checkout periods, and no limits.  You may check out as many issues as you want and keep them in your account as long as you want.
 
KANOPY is a free streaming video service and the newest digital resource offered by Sedona Public Library. Kanopy has been described as “thoughtful entertainment,” with a selection of over 30,000 on-demand videos, including new releases, independent and international cinema, classic movies, documentaries, educational films, and more. Library cardholders can access Kanopy on their home computers, on smart TVs, or with the Kanopy mobile app on mobile devices. Kanopy is free and easy.  You must have a valid library card from Sedona Library or Sedona Library in the Village to use Kanopy.
 
If you have questions about the Library’s digital services, please email voc@sedonalibrary.org or leave a message at 928-284-1603. Your call will be returned within two days.
 
Sedona Public Library is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. Please support your library for Library Giving Day.  From now through April 23, your gifts will be matched with the generous support of local donors up to $30,000!  You may direct your donation to Sedona Public Library in the Village. Visit the Library’s website at sedonalibrary.org/donate to make an online donation. 

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

Iris Yang will be the featured speaker at the Library’s community book discussion on Tuesday, March 31, at 1:30 p.m. at Sedona Winds Retirement Community, 405 Jacks Canyon Road. All are welcome!
 
We will be discussing Iris’s first book, “Wings of a Flying Tiger.” The novel tells the story of Danny Hardy, one of the heroic Flying Tigers, a group of American volunteer pilots who helped China fight Japan in World War II. When Danny bails out of his fighter plane into a remote region of western China, he has multiple injuries and is being pursued by Japanese troops. After villagers take him in, the serenity of their community is forever shattered. Love, sacrifice, kindness, and bravery all play a part in this epic tale that takes place during some of the darkest hours of Chinese history.
 
Iris Yang (Qing Yang) was born and raised in China. After graduating from Wuhan University, she was accepted by the prestigious CUSBEA (China-United States Biochemistry Examination and Application) program. At age 23, with poor English, little knowledge of the United States, and $500 that she borrowed, she came to the U.S. as a graduate student at the University of Rochester. Later, she earned a Ph.D. in molecular biology and worked at the University of North Carolina.
 
Growing up in China, Iris had limited access to literature. During the Cultural Revolution, libraries were closed, and bookstores carried nothing except political works.  Nevertheless, she fell in love with literature by listening to her father tell stories. She developed a passion for creative writing, a dangerous pursuit in her native country, so she had to choose a safer career path.
 
In America, Iris had the freedom to pursue her dream of writing fiction, which she describes as a journey. It took about three years writing fulltime to complete two books:  “Wings of a Flying Tiger” and “Will of a Tiger.” She recently finished the third book of the Tiger Saga Trilogy, scheduled to be published this summer. “Legacy of the Tigers” is about a woman’s struggle in China’s political chaos—to survive and to search for her family and the American pilot she loves.
 
During a recent interview, Iris explained her interest in the Flying Tigers: “I didn’t know anything about the Flying Tigers until I came to the U.S. As a Chinese, I’m thankful for the Flying Tigers’ bravery and sacrifice.  As a U.S. citizen, I’m honored to write books about American heroes.”
 
Iris and her books have been featured on National Public Radio. In 2019 she was the guest speaker at the Flying Tigers WWII Veterans Reunion. She welcomes opportunities to speak to groups to share her stories. Contact the author at www.irisyang-author.com. 
 
For more information about programs that we offer at Sedona Public Library, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, please stop by or call the Library at 928-282-7714.  You may also access the Library’s website at www.sedonalibrary.org to view the events calendar or to make an online donation. 

As we mark the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, it’s time to look back at the enormous effort it took for women to be granted full citizenship through the right to vote. For decades before the amendment’s passage, women across the United States rallied, protested, picketed, fundraised, and lobbied for enfranchisement at the state level.

Many Western women got the vote long before their Eastern sisters. In fact, Arizona was the tenth state in which women earned the right to vote. That doesn’t mean Arizona suffragists had it easy. If you would like to learn more about the challenges Arizona suffragists faced, attend “Hyenas in Petticoats: How Women Struggled Against Every Trick in the Books to Win the Vote,” by Arizona Humanities speaker Jana Bommersbach on Friday, February 14.  

The program will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Church of the Nazarene, 55 Rojo Drive in the Village of Oak Creek. Generously funded by Arizona Humanities and Friends of the Sedona Library, this presentation is free and open to the public.  Donations are always welcome.

Jana Bommersbach is an acclaimed Arizona journalist, author, and speaker.  She has won accolades in every facet of her career—investigative reporter, magazine columnist, television commentator, and author of nationally acclaimed books.  She currently writes for True West magazine, digging up the true stories behind popular myths, with an emphasis on Arizona history and women of the Old West. Her insight, knowledge, and wit contribute to her exuberant, riveting presentations, which always garner rave reviews.

Many programs and events are planned nationally, statewide, and locally to commemorate 100 years of women voting. Additional library programs about the 19th Amendment and the suffrage movement will be added during the year; please check for updates in the monthly library newsletter, or view the events calendar online.

Finally, we encourage you to VOTE!  If you are not registered to vote in Arizona, you can register online at https://servicearizona.com. You may also pick up a voter registration form at the Library. Representatives from the League of Women Voters will be at Sedona Public Library and the Village library every month through November to answer questions and to assist with voter registration. Please check the library events calendar for dates and times at the main library. For the schedule at the Village library, call 928-284-1603 or email voc@sedonalibrary.org.  

For more information about programs that we offer at Sedona Public Library, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, please stop by or call the Library at 928-282-7714. You may also access the Library’s website at www.sedonalibrary.org to view the events calendar or to make an online donation.