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The February Villager article was so well received that I decided to continue to offer reading recommendations for this month’s article. I asked several patrons who frequently visit the Village library to suggest titles and authors. These titles were not necessarily published recently.
Tom R.: Everyone should read “The Blue Death: The Intriguing Past and Present Danger of the Water You Drink,” by Robert Morris. This was such a good book about the cholera epidemic in the 19th century and the history of waterborne diseases. Scientists are researching ways to keep our water safe. Gary: I really enjoyed David Baldacci’s latest novel, “Long Road to Mercy.” He introduced a new female character in Atlee Pine, and the setting was Arizona and the Grand Canyon. Baldacci never leaves you disappointed. Tom W.: I am a huge fan of James Lee Burke. I lived in the New Orleans area for twelve years, so I can relate to the culture, the music, the food, and the setting of Burke’s novels. I collect all of James Lee Burke’s books. I just finished “The New Iberia Blues, the latest book in the Dave Robicheaux series. I think it is one of his best. Paul: I recently read James Lee Burke’s latest book, “The New Iberia Blues,” and would have to agree that it was one of his best. The author’s use of language turns the prose into a mosaic. He gives you just enough information along the way to make a good guess at the villain. I recommend reading earlier books in the Dave Robicheaux series to get background information and to gain a better understanding of character development. John: I am recommending “Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man’s Fight for Justice.” The author is Bill Browder. This is a real-life political thriller about an American financier in Russia, the murder of his Russian attorney, and Browder’s dangerous mission to expose the Kremlin’s corruption Kevin: I like the Walt Longmire series by Craig Johnson. I can’t think of any specific titles, but I can recommend authors. Clive Cussler, John Sandford, C.J. Box, Lee Child, and Randy Wayne White are among my favorites. Tom G.: I recently read John Grisham’s “The Reckoning.” I have read all of his novels and enjoyed them all. What I liked most about “The Reckoning” was that although it was built around a court case, it was different from previous Grisham novels and totally unpredictable. Rod: I enjoyed and recommend “Gale Force,” by Owen Laukkanen. Action-loving readers should be thrilled with this one. This book is filled with bravery, betrayal, sudden twists, and pure excitement. From the author of the acclaimed Stevens and Windermere novels, a new heroine emerges. These titles are available in various formats from the Yavapai Library Network. Do you enjoy reading? If so, please share your reading recommendations the next time you visit the Library. Please contact Cheryl Yeatts at 928.284.1603 or email voc@sedonalibrary.org for more information. With thousands of books being published every year, how do you choose which books to read? If you don’t have time to browse the shelves at the Library, the staff and library volunteers are always eager to share their book recommendations. I asked a number of these dedicated readers to reflect on books they read in 2018. (These titles were not necessarily published in 2018.)
Suggestions from Library Staff: Kay: Because of The Great American Read, I read “A Prayer for Owen Meany,” by John Irving. I found it very thought-provoking. Elizabeth: I enjoyed reading “My Brilliant Friend,” by Elena Ferrante, and look forward to seeing the HBO adaptation when it comes out on DVD. Anne Marie: My book for last year would be "Beloved," by Toni Morrison. I love all things Toni Morrison. Cheryl: I can’t stop thinking about “Educated: A Memoir,” by Tara Westover. If you are a fan of “Under the Tuscan Sun,” then pick up Frances Mayes’s latest book, “Women in Sunlight.” Stacie: I am recommending “Before We Were Yours,” by Lisa Wingate. I read this book for my book club. Suggestions from Library Volunteers: Carol: “The House of Scorta,” by Laurent Gaudé is a well-written story that recounts the saga of the Scorta family, “one of infamous crimes, forsaken loves, and lifelong secrets.” Deb: “Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress,” by Steven Pinker, will make you think. For a laugh, read “The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain,” by Bill Bryson. Holly: I feel everyone should read “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End” by Atul Gawande. As a nurse, I often observed medical care prolonging life but also prolonging suffering. This book would be helpful to families in making choices about what they want toward the end of life. Ilana: I have two suggestions. The first is "The Dalai Lama's Cat,” by David Michie. The second is "A Gentleman In Moscow," by Amor Towles. Both were wonderful for very different reasons. Janice: “The Long Haul: A Trucker’s Tales of Life on the Road,” by Finn Murphy, is one of my favorite books. I liked reading about the author’s experiences with the moving industry. Mary: I am recommending two nonfiction books: “The Line Becomes a River,” by Francisco Cantú, and “Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Company That Addicted America,” by Beth Macy. Valerie: In “Exit West,” by Mohsin Hamid, I found the combination of magical realism set in the modern world fascinating. The love story, coupled with the possibility of escape through doorways to different unpredictable areas of the world, made it possible for me to read a narrative of civil war in a country in the Middle East. These titles are available in various formats from the Yavapai Library Network. If you need assistance placing a hold, please contact the Library. For more information please call Cheryl Yeatts, Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village, at 928-284-1603, or email voc@sedonalibrary.org. Sedona Public Library is pleased to announce a wonderful series of Arizona Humanities speaker programs for 2019. AZ Speaks is the longest-running and most popular program of Arizona Humanities. Speakers are selected based on their expertise and ability to offer content that inspires and entertains audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Programs begin at 1:30 at the Church of the Nazarene, 55 Rojo Drive in VOC. Generously funded by Arizona Humanities and Friends of the Sedona Library, programs are free and open to the public. Donations are always welcome! You don’t want to miss these engaging, educational presentations, so grab your calendar and make a note of these dates: Wednesday, January 9: “Cowpokes, Crooks, and Cactus: Arizona in the Movies,” presented by Gregory McNamee From the earliest days of film to the present day, Arizona has been a setting and subject for hundreds of films. Some, like Junior Bonner and Red River, are considered classics; others, such as Billy Jack and Evolution, surely less so. Some may even be classics in the making, like Tombstone and Near Dark. This entertaining talk looks at the Grand Canyon State on the silver screen. Saturday, February 16: “How Abraham Lincoln Used Stories to Touch Hearts, Minds, and Funny Bones,” presented by Terry Sprouse Abraham Lincoln was a man of many talents. One skill he excelled at was telling stories. At this presentation, speaker Terry Sprouse will explain and demonstrate the techniques that Abraham Lincoln developed to tell compelling stories, such as using mimicry and self-effacing humor and adding a moral to the story. Tuesday, March 12: “The U.S. Constitution: What It Says and How It Works,” presented by Dr. T.J. Davis Most Americans think they know what the Constitution says, but few have actually examined it. The Constitution provides principles for the federal government’s relationship with the states and with individual citizens. Its hallmarks are dual sovereignty, delegated and reserved powers, and guarantees of personal civil liberties and rights. This presentation allows the audience opportunities to review the concepts and composition of the document that functions as the legal foundation and framework of our nation. Wednesday, April 3: “On the Road Since 1925: The Colorful History of Arizona Highways,” presented by Win Holden The first issue of Arizona Highways magazine was published in April, 1925. During this presentation, Win Holden, former publisher, will share the fascinating story of how a brochure produced by the Arizona Highway Department evolved into one of the most respected and revered publications in the world. Learn how this remarkable magazine has beaten the odds and is thriving in a competitive environment that has seen respected national magazines fall by the wayside. For more information, call Cheryl Yeatts, Village Library Manager at 928-284-1603, or email voc@sedonalibrary.org. Thank you for supporting Sedona Public Library services in the Village of Oak Creek. Imagine living in Arizona in the 1870s. Martha Summerhayes, the young bride of an Army lieutenant, did just that and shared her adventures in her book “Vanished Arizona: Recollections of the Army Life of a New England Woman.” This classic book was first published in 1908 and reprinted several times. Martha’s book is still being read, discussed, and enjoyed today.
To learn more about Martha Summerhayes, join Wayne Ranney for an Arizona Humanities presentation “In the Footsteps of Martha Summerhayes” on Monday, December 10, at 1:30 p.m. at the Church of the Nazarene, 55 Rojo Drive in the Village of Oak Creek. This program, sponsored by Arizona Humanities and Friends of Sedona Public Library, is free and open to the public. Ranney has a personal connection to the Summerhayes family, which he shares during his lecture. Martha “Mattie” Dunham Summerhayes was born October 21, 1844, to a prosperous family in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Martha was a refined, educated New England woman. From 1871 to 1873, she spent two years studying literature in Germany. Shortly after she returned from Germany, she married Lt. Jack Summerhayes, a veteran of the American Civil War. In 1874 Martha accompanied her husband to the Arizona Territory, where he was serving in General George Crook’s military expedition against the Apache Indians. Traveling in horrific conditions and dreadful heat, she soon despised the wild and untamed land. During their time in the Arizona Territory, from 1874 to 1878, the Summerhayes were posted at Fort Apache, Fort Whipple, Fort McDowell, Camp Ehrenberg, and Fort Verde. Martha shared in her memoir, “I had cast my lot with a soldier and where he was, was home to me.” Gradually, Martha’s attitude toward the desert changed. She soon came to love the starry nights, the clear air, and the simplicity of its inhabitants. In her memoir, Martha chronicles these and other experiences during the 1870s in the Arizona Territory. If you would like to read “Vanished Arizona” before Ranney’s presentation, the book is available in regular print and large type from the Yavapai Library Network. You may also download the book to your e-reader device from www.gutenberg.org Call the Library if you need assistance placing a hold or downloading the ebook. Wayne Ranney, the presenter, is a dynamic speaker and an award-winning author of numerous books. A resident of Arizona since 1975, Wayne worked as a backcountry ranger in the Grand Canyon before attaining degrees in geology from Northern Arizona University. In addition to writing and lecturing, he offers educational adventures in the Southwest and around the world. For more information please call Cheryl Yeatts, Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village, at 928-284-1603, or email voc@sedonalibrary.org. Thank you for supporting library services in the Village of Oak Creek. Sedona Public Library in the Village is a unique library with an interesting history. If you have been a resident of the Village for a while, you may remember when library materials were returned to a box at Weber’s IGA. That changed in 2005, when former library director David Keeber and a committee of Village residents, concerned about traffic issues with the Highway 179 improvement project, requested funding from the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors and the Yavapai Library District to open a library service center in the VOC. Residents of the Village also generously donated funds to support the project.
Sedona Public Library opened SPL in the Village (originally called the Village Service Center) at 56 W. Cortez Drive in December 2005. The facility was 450 square feet, with three public access computers, one staff person, and five library volunteers. Today, the service center, located at Suite 51A in Bell Rock Plaza, operates in 1,100 square feet of space. I am pleased to announce that we recently renewed our lease at our current location for three more years. As we have moved to larger facilities over time, library services in the Village have expanded as well and now include the following:
Since opening in 2005, SPL-V has proven to be a valuable and convenient resource for the community. Virginia Volkman, Director of Sedona Public Library, shared the following statistics for SPL-V in the annual report for the 2018 fiscal year:
Sedona Public Library in the Village is at Suite 51A in Bell Rock Plaza. Library hours in the Village are Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. Our goal for customer service is to exceed your expectations. We appreciate the support of our patrons and visitors and look forward to assisting you with your library needs. Please contact Cheryl Yeatts at 928-284-1603 or email voc@sedonalibrary.org for more information. Many of us remember where we were on July 20, 1969, when Neil Armstrong made history by being the first man to walk on the moon. We are familiar with his words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Did you know that Arizona played a key role in preparing to send humans to the moon in the late 1960s and early 1970s? Learn the fascinating details at speaker Kevin Schindler’s Arizona Humanities presentation “Arizona Goes to the Moon,” on Monday, October 8. The program begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Church of the Nazarene, 55 Rojo Drive in the Village of Oak Creek. This program, generously funded by Arizona Humanities and the Friends of the Sedona Library, is free and open to the public. During his presentation, Kevin will tell how the Apollo astronauts themselves traveled to the Grand Canyon and the volcanic fields around the state to learn geology and practice their lunar excursions. Meanwhile, U.S. Geological Survey engineers in Northern Arizona worked with NASA staff members to develop and test instruments, while artists joined forces with scientists at Lowell Observatory to create detailed maps of the moon that were critical to navigating around the lunar surface. Presenter Kevin Schindler is an award-winning educator and writer who has worked for more than 20 years at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff. Combining a dual passion for history and science, he has presented hundreds of educational programs, authored four books, written more than 400 magazine and newspaper articles, and contributes a bi-weekly astronomy column for the Arizona Daily Sun. In October, you can also participate in Great American Read programming at the Library. For a complete schedule of Great American Read events, please visit sedonalibrary.org. Visit pbs.org for more information about the 100 books selected for The Great American Read. .As part of our Great American Read programming, the Library will host a Verde Valley Book Club Mixer on Tuesday, October 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the community room at Sedona Public Library. During this gathering, we will focus on how book clubs choose and discuss books. We will also share new ideas for book clubs. You do not have to be a member of a book club to attend. Join a book club or meet someone new and start a book club. Come by yourself or come with your book club. Participate in the conversation started by The Great American Read: “What is America’s most-loved novel, and why?” This mixer promises to be a fun, engaging event, with refreshments and prizes. This event is free and open to the public. Additionally, everyone is encouraged to help us determine Sedona’s most-loved novel. Please stop by the Library in West Sedona or the Village of Oak Creek to cast your vote. Programming for The Great American Read is made possible by a grant from the American Library Association and PBS. Please contact Cheryl Yeatts at 928.284.1603 or email voc@sedonalibrary.org for more information. Sedona Public Library is pleased to announce the return of Arizona Humanities speaker programs. AZ Speaks is the longest-running and most popular program of Arizona Humanities. Speakers are selected based on their expertise and ability to offer content that inspires and entertains audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Programs begin at 1:30 at the Church of the Nazarene, 55 Rojo Drive in VOC. Generously funded by Arizona Humanities and Friends of Sedona Public Library, programs are free and open to the public. You don’t want to miss these engaging, educational presentations, so grab your calendar and make a note of these dates: Wednesday, September 12: “Life on the Lazy B as Lived by an American Cowboy and Rancher,” presented by Alan Day In 1880, Alan Day’s grandfather homesteaded the Lazy B Ranch. This dusty, dry tract of land produced a U.S. Supreme Court justice, a lauded Arizona state senator, and a career rancher, cowboy, and land conservationist. In his presentation, Alan explores the ranching and cowboy life, from the simpler times of his youth through the myriad changes he has witnessed as an adult. Monday, October 8: “Arizona Goes to the Moon,” presented by Kevin Schindler Arizona played a key role in preparing to send humans to the moon in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The Apollo astronauts themselves traveled to the Grand Canyon and volcanic fields around the state to learn geology and practice their lunar excursions. Meanwhile, U.S. Geological Survey engineers worked with NASA staff members to develop and test instruments while artists joined forces with scientists to create detailed maps of the moon that were critical to navigating around the lunar surface. Wednesday, November 14: “Protecting a Way of Life: Kinship Responsibilities,” presented by Royce and Debbie Manuel As an educator and member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian community, Royce, along with his wife, Debbie, specializes in the revival, protection, and teaching of indigenous artistic traditions. Royce demonstrates the use of traditional tools and materials such as plant fibers, primitive bows and arrows, and knapping stones, while Debbie provides valuable insight into indigenous practices in both urban and tribal community settings. Monday, December 10: “In the Footsteps of Martha Summerhayes,” presented by Wayne Ranney Martha Summerhayes was a refined New England woman who entered the Arizona Territory in 1874 as the young bride of an Army lieutenant. Traveling in horrific conditions and dreadful heat, she soon despised the wild and untamed land. She gave birth to the first Anglo child born at Fort Apache, where the native women took her under their care. Martha wrote about her experiences in the classic book Vanished Arizona, in print since 1908. Ranney has a personal connection to the Summerhayes family, which he shares in the lecture. Please contact Cheryl Yeatts at 928-284-1603 or email voc@sedonalibrary.org for more information about these programs. I was introduced to libraries around the age of three. Almost every Saturday, my dad would take me to the old Victorian house that served as our community library. We would browse the shelves in the children’s room. He would help me choose picture books; then, we would cuddle up in the bay window to share books. My dad would patiently turn pages as I stumbled over words and often made up my own stories to go with the pictures.
I am fortunate to have wonderful memories of father/daughter time spent at our public library, and to this day, I still love books and libraries. In fact, one of my favorite things to do when I travel is visit libraries. I appreciate browsing the shelves, looking at displays, learning about library programs, and networking with other librarians. When I started to write this article, I thought about our residents who spend winters in Sedona and use library services offered by the Yavapai Library Network. Curious about these part-time residents and the other libraries they visit, I reached out to a few of these patrons. Here’s what they shared: Paul and Mara Majane reside in the Village of Oak Creek and Edgartown, Massachusetts. When in Sedona, Paul uses Sedona Public Library in the Village. An avid reader, he probably reads a book a day. For many years Paul and Mara used the Carnegie library, a gift to the town from Andrew Carnegie. This building, constructed in 1904, served as the public library for the town until a new library was completed in 2016. The Carnegie is now owned by the Vineyard Trust and serves as a maritime museum and visitor center. Paul uses and appreciates the new Edgartown Public Library, but he said he misses the atmosphere of the beloved Carnegie library. Gillian and Philip Robson enjoy spending the winter in Sedona. Gill often rides her bike to the Village library. Their other home is in Penticton, British Columbia, a town a little bigger than Sedona. There, she visits the Penticton Library, one of 71 public libraries in B.C. Stefka Regelous and Robert Patterson are international library users. They are world travelers with homes in the UK, Italy, and Sedona. They support the Chichester Library located in Chichester, West Sussex in the UK. Stefka shared that this great library offers a variety of activities for children, meetings with authors, and information about local history. Stefka also uses the local library in Bulgaria when visiting her parents. Do you enjoy visiting libraries when you travel? If so, I’d love to hear about your library adventures next time you visit Sedona Library in the Village. Thank you for supporting library services in the Village of Oak Creek. Did you know that your tax deductible donation may be designated for Sedona Public Library in the Village? Please contact Cheryl Yeatts at 928.284.1603 or email voc@sedonalibrary.org for more information. There’s still time to participate in the adult summer reading program sponsored by Sedona Public Library (SPL). The program ends Friday, July 27. Sign-up is free and easy. Register online at sedonapubliclibrary.org or in-person at the reference desk at SPL or Sedona Public Library in the Village (SPL-V). The last day to register is Tuesday, July 17.
Join the adult summer reading program by logging your reading progress. All forms of reading count towards earning points: books, magazines, audiobooks, and reading aloud to others. Readers accumulate coupons based on the amount of reading done. For every 300 pages read and logged, readers will earn a coupon to enter the weekly raffle held each Tuesday at 4 p.m. Coupons must be dropped off at the reference desk at SPL or SPL-V prior to the drawing. Attendance at the drawings is not required. Winners will be contacted by phone or email. Weekly prizes include gifts from The Hike House, Layla’s Bakery, Hummingbird House, The Literate Lizard, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and Sedona International Film Festival. This year we are pleased to offer two grand prizes. Each grand prize winner will receive a $50 gift card for Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen. To be eligible for this drawing, participants must submit a completed stamped game card. In keeping with this year’s theme of “Libraries Rock,” we have some fun programs planned:
In addition to presenting the adult summer reading program, SPL will continue to celebrate its 60th anniversary with programs and events. This summer, the Library will sponsor a 60th anniversary writing contest. In the fall, several of the Library’s Monday night movies will showcase films made in Sedona during the 50s and 60s. Check the library events calendar at www.sedonalibrary.org for details. Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. We are grateful for the support of the City of Sedona, Yavapai and Coconino Counties, businesses and foundations, and individuals like you. Your tax-deductible donation may be sent to: Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, Arizona 86336. Have you read any good books lately? Can you recommend a book for me? Do you know this author? Have you read this book?
If you have spent any time in the Library, you will hear patrons asking these questions throughout the year, and even more so during the adult summer reading program.To get you ready for this year’s program, I decided to ask avid readers for their book recommendations. Some of these library patrons visit the Library every day. Others stop by two or three times a week to pick up their holds. Tom White’s favorite author is James Lee Burke. Most of Burke’s novels are set in Louisiana. Tom lived in New Orleans, and he collects signed copies of books written by Burke. Tom highly recommends Burke’s latest book about Detective Dave Robicheaux, called “Robicheaux.” In addition to playing bridge, Pat Jay likes to read mysteries. She said “The Woman in the Window,” by A.J. Finn, kept her guessing and turning pages. If you enjoy reading Gillian Flynn and Tana French, this thriller is for you. If you want book recommendations, meet Patty Swanson. On average, she reads one book a day. Patty can be described as a voracious reader with varied interests. She has a great deal to contribute during our monthly book discussions at Sedona Winds. Patty’s latest book recommendation is “To Die But Once,” the latest in the Maisie Dobbs series, written by Jacqueline Winspear. Patty also enjoyed reading “Cha’risa’s Gift, written by local author Ilana Maletz. As a former high school history teacher, Gary Yeatts often reads about famous people in history. He recently finished “Lincoln and Churchill: Statesmen at War,” by Lewis Lehrman. He enjoyed the way the author compared and contrasted Lincoln and Churchill, two great leaders who changed the course of history. If you are a fan of nonfiction, Janice LaDuke recommends “The Long Haul: A Trucker’s Tales of Life on the Road,” by Finn Murphy. The author dropped out of college to become a long-haul trucker. In his first book, Murphy shares stories from the road. Janice liked reading about the author’s experiences with the moving industry. Now that you have your book recommendations, it’s time to join the adult summer reading program sponsored by Sedona Public Library (SPL). This year’s theme is Libraries Rock. The program begins with a kick-off event on Friday, June 1 at 3:00 p.m. at SPL. Adult summer reading ends Friday, July 27, so look for additional programs and events in the coming weeks. Participation is easy. Just keep track of the number of pages you read and log your hours to be eligible to win prizes. Register online at sedonalibrary.org or in-person at the reference desk at SPL or Sedona Public Library in the Village. If you need assistance registering for the adult summer reading program, please call or stop by the Library. Happy reading! |
AboutVillage News appears monthly in The Villager and is also presented on Sedona Biz.
By Cheryl YeattsCheryl Yeatts is Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village. Archives
October 2021
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