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As published in the Red Rock News.
As we often do at this time of year, we look back on all we’ve accomplished and consider what the approaching year might bring. We review, calculate, remember, snap our fingers and say, “Oh, that’s right, I need to write that down.” And, if you’re like me, the best way to remember, for yesterday or today, is to make a list. I am a list maker in my personal life, and yes, I still handwrite them. For all the apps that are out there for making grocery, holiday, or party lists, for me, there is nothing like the sight of my many-itemed chicken scratched list, and the feeling of drawing a fast line through the task I just completed. Finished! As a professional, I have the same practice, and as a fundraiser for Sedona Public Library, it is vital that I tally all that we do. I simply can’t ask for support from individuals, businesses, or foundations without being able to tick off the ways we make Sedona a vibrant and wonderful place to live. So, once again, please bear with me as I present my annual list of 50—count them, 50!—items: services, programs, and more that we make available to the community. These benefits and activities are waiting for you at two locations, for free! By the way, as we’re in the throes of our end-of-year campaign, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that when you support the Library, you support everything on the list. Special bonus? Your gifts will be matched, dollar for dollar, UP TO $50,000! Our matching donors have upped the game and challenged the community to contribute $50,000 to their Library. We’re halfway there, help us hit the $50K mark? Giving to the Library is really the best deal in town, worth every dollar. Read on!
If you’ve already made your gift, or you’re just now putting it on your to-do list, thanks! Happy Holidays from all the staff of Sedona Public Library! Please visit Sedonalibrary.org/donate. Sedona Public Library Library News Column for December 23, 2022 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director  As published in the Red Rock News
One of the best things about working at Sedona Public Library is learning people’s library stories. Everyone has one and most rave about getting their first library card; remembering a favorite librarian who helped them hone their love for reading books; favorite books they check out again and again; or moving to a new town and hurrying to find the library. Kay Bork, a reference librarian at Sedona Public Library, is not only an avid reader, but has dedicated her careers to books, language, and service. “I’ve had two wonderful careers,” Kay explains. “And both have involved intellectual stimulation and helping people.” Kay’s first job was when she was very young, and she was an “Instacart Lady.” She delivered groceries to neighbors and fondly remembers her nickel tips. From there she went on to be a typist at the University of Illinois, and then majored in French and political science at DePauw University with the dream of becoming a Foreign Service Officer. That plan leaned in a new direction when she was on the Queen Mary en route to Switzerland to study at the University of Geneva and met Ken Bork. She married Ken and taught high school French for 21 years in Granville, Ohio. And then her career took another shift. She received her Master of Library Science and worked for another 15 years as both a branch manager and then a reference librarian. In 2010, when she and Ken visited Sedona knowing it would be their retirement home, what did Kay do? She began volunteering at the Library and continued volunteering after they relocated here. In 2016 we were glad to bring her on board as a part-time librarian. Of course, with someone like Kay, the story doesn’t end here. As a librarian, Kay has taught our French conversation and grammar course, and she holds our monthly book discussion group which alternates between fiction, classic fiction, and non-fiction books. Kay is an avid reader and as patrons always want to know what our librarians read, Kay shared that two of her current favorite fiction authors are Maggie O’Ferrell and Barbara Kingsolver. Two non-fiction favorites are Michael Pollan and Isabel Wilkerson. In fact, Kay and Ken just held a workshop for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI): Kay & Ken Consider Non-fiction. They took turns discussing their favorite non-fiction books. “Everyone participated and enjoyed talking about what books they love and why,” Kay explained. Kay has dedicated her life to service and intellectual stimulation, and if she’s not too busy at our reference or circulation desk, ask her about a book or an author. Chances are she has already read the book, knows the author, or will help you find what you’re looking for in a jiffy. Ask Kay about her reading journal—imagine tracking a life of reading! We always ask our featured staff members a few other fun questions, and here are Kay’s responses. Where were you born? “I was born in Champaign, Illinois, and lived there until I went to college.” What book influenced you the most? “Candide by Voltaire. During the time that I was a French teacher, I read it each year with my seniors, and I never failed to find both wit and wisdom in it, which are still applicable today.” Are you team dog or team cat? “Neither. My husband is a paleontologist, and we have two cute metal T-Rex silhouettes on our patio. So, I guess you could say that I am Team Dinosaur.” Have you ever seen a ghost or a UFO? “No, but the day that I do I’ll feel like a real Sedonan.” We believe Kay is a real Sedonan, and certainly a gem of a librarian. We’re so grateful that her life of reading brought her to Sedona Public Library. Kay and Ken have been generous supporters of the Library for many years, and we couldn’t be more glad to have them in our library family. Thank you! It's that time of year! You can make twice the difference to your Library when you make an end-of-year gift. Your gifts will be matched, dollar-for dollar, up to $40,000 because of generous library donors like you. Please consider supporting Sedona Public Library when you make your end of year gifts. Visit sedonalibrary.org/donate, or stop by and ask for me, I’m always happy to talk about donating to Sedona Public Library. You can email me at amackler@sedonalibrary.org. Happy Holidays! Sedona Public Library Library News Column for December 16, 2022 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director As published in the Red Rock News.
Hello Red Rock News readers! December 6 marked my first full year at Sedona Public Library as its Program and Marketing Coordinator. However 2022 marked my third year working in what I affectionately call “library land.” It’s no different than when I worked at previous places of employment. Whether it was managing the image assets for various collegiate text books when I worked for Pearson Education in Upper Saddle River, N.J., or the years I spent working for this very newspaper, The Red Rock News, writing movie reviews for The SCENE or working in its production department, designing and updating ads, and helping layout the newspaper. The one common denominator that every job I have ever held had is that I have to have the ability to listen. Entering this month, December, I appreciate that I now have clearer view of what my role at the library and in the community is: listen. My December start last year was a quiet one as a lot of the community groups that meet monthly at the Library were on their holiday break. This was followed by a busy January as they all returned with gusto! Being given the task of reintroducing in-person programs at the Library was no easy feat, and I completed it gradually. I’m fond of using the analogy of the neighborhood restaurant switching from Italian to Tex-Mex and having a soft opening. And that’s what January was, we soft opened the return of in-person Youth Services Programs. It was nice, seeing families come in and children running around. February we soft-opened the return of Monday Movie Nights. It’s probably one of my favorite Library programs. People enjoy a cup of free popcorn and watch a movie they maybe didn’t get a chance to see in theaters or rewatch a classic film, for free. I’ve had fun with movie nights, showing a Star Wars movie on May 4th (May the 4th be with you) or a holiday movie in July. I hope you all come out next Monday at 6 p.m. to watch the best Christmas movie EVER starring Bruce Willis as a man trying to get home to his family in Los Angeles for the holidays. Last January, I was behind the scenes a we organized and set up the annual quilt show we host for the Red Rock Quilters. It was really amazing and beautiful to look at all the intricate designs and materials the quilters use. I didn’t go up on the mechanical lift to hang the quilts last year, but this year I will. Sorry to break it to you, dear readers, but you don’t spend your days reading books if you work at the Library. There’s always something that needs to be done and someone new and interesting to meet. There’s an ebb and flow to working in a library. As one month of programs ends, we look forward to a new month of possibilities. I learned that on Wednesdays, around noon, the library comes alive with activity as we welcome our neighbors – students from Sedona Charter School who have a half day. It’s been nice seeing teens at the Library. They’ve grown accustomed to our Teen Area, that corner of the library with comfy couches, decorated with toys – they’re mine by the way – and superhero posters, and signs featuring Jim Belushi from Animal House and Bruce Willis from his Moonlighting heyday. What is it with my fascination with Bruce Willis? The teens come to the library to gather, socialize, play Dungeons and Dragons, and have taken well to our new courtyard. An open space for them to get out all their energy. I also find it rewarding that I see a core group of them in the Teen Area, past the normal pick up time, using the area as a place study and wait for their parents to pick them up. I’ve come to know a lot of our patrons, and I still feel bad when I can recall the face but not the name. You have us at a disadvantage, we wear nametags! But I welcome every interaction to say “hello” and see how you are doing. I relish practicing my Spanish skills with native speakers and attendees of our Conversational Spanish Class, taught by Jami Rangel, our bilingual outreach librarian. It’s always interesting to meet the many visitors who come to Sedona and are drawn to the Library, whether to visit the Friends of the Library book store or take a picture with Steve, the Tyranosaurus Rex. I always tell visitors that the building was built in 1994 on the remains of an old pirate ship and point to the large wooden beams in the ceiling. A treat is when the visitors are also fellow library folk from other states. It’s always nice to meet the cousins. Now that the Library is back to being open later on Wednesdays, closing at 8pm, and our brand new courtyard is now open sunrise to sunset, I’m working on scheduling more programs utilizing both. ‘Tis the Holiday Season and our tree is up, and various community organizations are using our Library for toy and clothing donation drop-off sites. We hope you’ll support them and their good causes. As I write this, the fog has lifted and the sun is shining, welcoming a new day. Thank you for welcoming me into the community and for a rewarding first year at Sedona Public Library. Please remember Sedona Public Library in your year-end giving. We currently have a dollar-for-dollar matching gift opportunity, up to $40,000! Please make twice the difference in your community when you support your Library. Visit sedonalibrary.org/donate to donate online, or send your check to Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. If you’re one of the nearly 100 donors who have already made a matching gift? Thank you! Sedona Public Library Library News Column for Dec 9, 2022 Written by Jan Marc Quisumbing, Program & Marketing Coordinator  As published in the Red Rock News
Hello Red Rock News readers! Next month will mark my first year as the Program and Marketing Coordinator at Sedona Public Library. My first few months at the Library were a bit of a whirlwind. My first day consisted of a planning meeting for the annual quilt show, and my first weeks were a blur of introductions to all the groups that use our meeting spaces for monthly gatherings. I also learned the ebb and flow of the busy library calendars for our monthly programs, and I discovered the array of listings we provide. If you want to know what is going on at Sedona Public Library and Sedona Public Library in the Village, all you have to do is visit our website, sedonalibrary.org and click the EVENTS tab. There you can choose ‘CALENDAR’ which takes you to the main library listing or ‘SPL IN THE VILLAGE CALENDAR’ which takes you to listing for the Village Library. The third dropdown option in the EVENTS tab is ‘SCHEDULING’ where you can inquire about date/room availability for hosting a meeting or propose a library program. This is an important form that I use to track and review our proposals and events. You are always welcome to call the Library at 282-7714 and ask about the day’s events at either library location, or, for instance, on Mondays, to find out what film will be shown. But if you find yourself at our main library branch in West Sedona, and want to learn what’s going on, there are many ways to find out. When you stop by the Circulation or Reference desks, keep an eye out for something I like to call “the snapshot” This “at-a-glance” printout provides a quick review of the day’s library events. Just like you’ll find on our online calendar, it gives you the name, time, description, and location of the events. You can also find a copy of the snapshot on the door of the Si Birch Community Room and next to the door of the Quiet Study. Fun fact: Events on the snapshot are color coded: for example, the Quiet Study’s events will be in a salmon-colored box. Remember to check with staff as schedules can change at the last minute. It took me about five months, but I am most proud of our newly organized bulletin boards inside the Library. We now provide three separate boards with event listings: one near the giant T-Rex head, whom I lovingly call ‘Steve,’ with our Library programs; one that lists events in the community, including the Verde Valley, and can be found near the restrooms and water fountain; and one that lists the programs and events in the Si Birch Community Room which can be found outside that room. We also have an entryway easel and a display board on the front porch. These five display options are just another way the Library keeps you informed about our programs and events. If you wish to post a flyer on a bulletin board, first contact me or leave your flyer with library staff. Finally, please subscribe to our monthly newsletters to learn about both adult and children’s programs and events. Visit our webpage and event calendars to learn more. A library without programs is just a building full of books. Our programs help keep the community engaged by bringing a variety of people together for an array of exciting learning and conversation opportunities. Maybe there is a group or activity you’d like to organize, join or attend? Check out our options! As we finish 2022, we have a busy December ahead and we’re looking at a full and informational 2023. Thank you for staying with us, for participating in the many things we do, and for being a part of Sedona Public Library. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To make a tax-deductible donation to our end of year campaign—where your gifts will be matched dollar for dollar up to $40,000—please visit sedonalibrary.org/donate or send your check to Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. Remember you can direct your gift to the Village Library as well. Thank you! Sedona Public Library Library News Column for 12.2.22 Written by Jan Marc Quisumbing, Program & Marketing Coordinator Happy Black Friday! Hopefully you are relaxing with family and friends, enjoying yummy leftovers after a strenuous hike along a gorgeous red rock trail, or maybe you’re going out shopping or making your holiday lists. No matter how you spend this weekend and the start of the holiday season, please remember that Giving Tuesday is just around the corner, and Sedona Public Library will launch its end of year campaign with a $40,000 matching gift!
That’s right, starting on Tuesday, November 29, your gifts will be matched dollar for dollar up to $40,000 thanks to several committed library donors. And why would they do this you ask? Because these are folks who know that our return on investment is impressive, and that at Sedona Public Library, we renew so much more than books. Perhaps you heard about our new 18,000 square foot courtyard with a 10,000 square foot patio? This outdoor space includes the Friends Fire Circle, a stage, ample comfy seating, then, of course, there’s the views, and last but not least, there’s the quick connection to the best bookstore in town! Come on by, pick up your holds, enjoy reading on the sunny patio, then do some holiday shopping at the bookstore. When you support your library, your library gives back! Maybe you heard about the new Village Library? We just celebrated the first anniversary, and we’re proud to say that we’ve issued 350 new library cards, patrons have checked out over 33,000 items, and hundreds of people have enjoyed our collection, meeting rooms, furnished patios, and the regular children’s programs including Story Time and Toy Potluck. That little service center that we offered in the Village of Oak Creek for decades? It served its purpose for the community, but a bigger, better, full-service library in the Village was long overdue. So, we “renewed” it with a whole new location! Your dollars make it possible for us to do all that we do! Looking for computers or Wi-Fi? We have them. Can’t get in to look up a title? No worries, use the YLN App on your phone to access over a million movies, books, magazines, eBooks, and audiobooks, place your hold, and we’ll let you know when it’s in. Not enough to wow you? We’ve got more. The Library is at your fingertips with RBDigital where you can find hundreds of magazines and eBooks; with Kanopy where you can stream thousands of films; and with Libby (Overdrive) where you’ll find thousands of eBooks and audio books. We never stop improving and growing with you and working to make our services and resources meet your needs. We renew your items, and we renew all that we offer to keep it up to date, fresh, and easily available. If you need help learning English, or want to refresh your Spanish, we’re the place. Are you looking for an outdoor library? Visit Storywalk at Sunset Park. If you want to discuss a new book or join a local writers’ salon, if you want to learn Microsoft Word or basic computer skills, if you want to view local quilts, geology, artwork, and exhibits, come on by! We have librarians that can lead you where you want to go. To a new trail or an old friend. To a guitar class or a terrific pie. Whether you’re checking social media, or looking for a hotel, we can get you to the right websites. Need a poem, a template, or to refresh your resume? Looking for free tickets to an Arizona museum? Are you beginning a genealogy search? We have answers to your questions, and if we don’t know the answers, we know how to find them. We are here to help you find what you need. A place to charge your phone? Done. The new musical with that special song? Done. An obscure novel from a faraway library? Done. Storytelling to inspire young readers? In Spanish or English? Done! We offer the community a myriad of possibilities. We have a vast array of diverse programs, a robust collection, fun and knowledgeable staff, a beautiful old building, and some of the most accommodating and affordable room rentals in the area. When you make a gift to the Library, you invest in the entire community and Sedona’s future. The return on your investment? Excellent. Just wait to see what we’ll do next. So this holiday season, enjoy the food, the festivities, the fun, and most importantly your family and friends, and please consider giving to the heart of your community, Sedona Public Library, where your gifts will be doubled. Remember, we renew more than books! Giving is easy at sedonalibrary.org/donate. Feel free to contact me for more information at amackler@sedonalibrary.org. Thanks, happy holidays, and happy reading! Sedona Public Library Library News Column for Nov 25, 2022 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director  As published in the Red Rock News
If you saw adults in town last Sunday with sticky marshmallow on their faces, and wondered where they’d been, you needn’t have looked any further than the new Friends of Sedona Library Fire Circle in Sedona Public Library’s Courtyard. Residents, friends, neighbors, and even a few out-of-town guests toasting the new community space and enjoying giant roasted marshmallows on the gorgeous autumn afternoon. “Will you be serving marshmallows again?” one patron asked as she left, a bit sticky. If not marshmallows, the Library will surely host plenty of programs and events on this huge outdoor patio designed specifically with the community in mind. “What a wonderful addition to our City,” said Mayor-Elect Scott Jablow, looking around in awe at the 10,000 square foot patio. It’s just down the road from the City of Sedona offices, Library Director Judy Poe pointed out. “We hope City employees, as well as neighbors and patrons will use this beautiful place for meetings over coffee or lunch, reading or studying, programs or movies, or just to admire the view.” More than 400 people attended the event and ribbon cutting on November 13, including special guests former library directors Ginny Volkman and David Keeber who was our M.C. He introduced city council member Jessica Williams and Donna Michaels, Yavapai County Supervisor, who both offered insights and congratulations, and City Manager Karen Osborne, who echoed her soon-to-be-boss’s sentiment. “My career has been in managing and developing cities,” Osborne began. “This courtyard is a thing that cities do. But Sedona Public Library is a small, private, non-profit, organization with a mission to serve the community. And this accessible Courtyard is proof that when the residents express their needs, this Library listens. Congratulations!” Such jubilance was shared and not just over the marshmallows, although it was a blast to see adults walking away with a few marshmallows on sticks over their shoulders. Visitors also enjoyed the Library’s award-winning chili and Overdue Brew provided by Sedona Beer Co. Additionally, everyone enjoyed the music. First up was acoustic guitar by Brian David who noted after his opening set, “I can’t wait to come back and play here again.” We can’t wait either. David was followed by Silent Treatment, a Cottonwood rock band headed up by the Library Facility Maintenance Manager Jim Thomas. The afternoon grew suddenly cold and windy as they played, but that didn’t scare people away from the fun afternoon. Instead, several people took the opportunity to dance to the great music and stay warm. In addition to the music, food, and camaraderie, many went on a search for the paver(s) they had purchased. We placed 275 pavers among the literally thousands on the patio, and we heard shouts of glee when someone found theirs. There were also many teary eyes as donors discovered a paver in memory of a loved relative or pet. And, of course, we heard laughter, too, as many of the pavers are funny, including “You are Unique, Just Like Everyone, Else – Margaret Mead.” We were also asked, “Where’s the map?” There isn’t one, but Library Director Judy Poe urged visitors to walk around and find their paver. “It’s a treasure hunt,” she said. “And we want you to enjoy the patio. You’ll find yours,” she assured everyone. And she’s right. They’re out there! I promise, in fact, only a couple that were ordered through September are left to be etched, and the opportunity is not over. We will continue to place your pavers over the months to come. Walking around yesterday was inspirational for everyone, and new orders are being processed as I write. Visit our website to order one, or maybe another one! This Courtyard could not have happened without the continued support we receive from the community. We are especially grateful to our Courtyard Sponsors including Gordon Reiter, the Carroll Family Charitable Fund, the Friends of the Sedona Library, and DeTar Construction, Inc. Additionally we are grateful to the more than 240 people who have purchased pavers. Thank you! Just as our City Manager mentioned, we listen to you. Libraries are no longer a place just for books (or marshmallows as it were), but for the community to gather, to meet, to learn, and to share. You told us in a community needs assessment two years ago that you needed outdoor space that you could call your own. This Courtyard is the direct result of what you told us. Yes, we listened, and we can’t wait to see you. Please visit the Courtyard, and if you can’t find your paver, come on in and ask for me. We’ll walk together to find your paver when there are not more than 400 people on the patio along with food and beverage tables. And if by any chance your paver is not yet etched, it will be, and I owe you a giant marshmallow! Sedona Public Library is a private non-profit organization with the charter to serve the public. Gifts can be made by cash or check, or online at sedonalibrary.org/donate. Sedona Public Library Library News Column for Nov 18, 2022 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director As Published in the Red Rock News
Hello Red Rock News readers! We’re celebrating! Just a year ago, on November 4, Sedona Public Library opened its new branch in the Village of Oak Creek. Happy Anniversary! Nearly 200 community members joined us that day to celebrate this addition to the Big Park community. It’s been a great year, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped make it happen. With the new location, expanded size, expanded hours (we’re open 28 hours each week) and services, Sedona Public Library in the Village has been busy. We’ve welcomed over 23,000 visitors to the library – an average of 100 people a day – all the while offering the best service to our grateful patrons. Many come in just to marvel at the spectacular view of Castle Rock, let alone the spacious comfortable setting. We offer both a full adult and children’s collection of books, movies and other digital media, all resulting in over 33,000 checkouts in our first year! And we’ve registered over 350 new library cards to patrons at our new location. Do you have yours yet? It’s free and opens your world to so much! For instance, consider getting an Act One Culture pass that grants free admission for two to many museums and cultural places of interest in Arizona. And that’s just the beginning. But what makes a library a library isn’t just the free books, Wi-Fi, computer use, and access to the newest literature or Hollywood blockbusters, it’s the programs and the meeting space. Programs at a library are a great way for people to connect with others who may share their interests or a way to open themselves up to new ideas. And we’ve got the space for you to do it! Your Village Library has ample space including the children’s area for families to gather, small meeting rooms for individuals to study, and our new large Javelina Room. In May of this year, we broadened our renewable lease to include this large meeting room, which is a malleable space for up to 80 with great technology that can be used for anything from an HOA monthly meeting room to a place where we host Arizona Humanities talks. The possibilities are endless. We couldn’t have achieved this expansion, or hosted our grand opening a year ago, without the help of so many in the community. A big THANK YOU goes out to Clark’s Market, whose Nonprofit Mondays and support from their customers and staff has resulted in nearly $12,000 in support for the Village Library. And there are the room sponsors including Donna Hawk, Patti Reski, Gordon Reiter, and an anonymous donor who donated a total of $17,000 to help make our meeting rooms hi-tech and available for you and your groups. And thanks to another few hundred donors who give regularly to the Village Library to make it all that it can be for the community. It's growing, and thriving, and just like our main branch in West Sedona, it provides many services. We have Technology Tuesdays with Marcy, our Information and Technology Librarian, offering free assistance for your technology questions. We also have Notary Public service for free on Wednesdays with Andrea, our Reference Librarian. There is Toy Potluck on Thursdays with Cindy, our newest library team member in Youth Services. And on Fridays we have Beginner Spanish Class with Jami, our Bilingual Outreach Librarian. Visit sedonalibrary.org and click the EVENTS tab and the SPL in the Village Calendar tab for more information about what’s going on at Sedona Public Library in the Village. From hosting over 25 children this past summer in the Arizona Science Center’s Science Camp to hosting Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) classes in partnership with Yavapai College to providing our popular weekly story time session on Tuesdays with Miss Marcia and Drumming with Harta (for families) on Thursdays, we’re busy! And then there was our successful Novel Night fundraiser this past October 1! We’d pat ourselves on the back for a job well-done, but our work isn’t finished yet! As the song goes, we’ve only just begun. Residents agree that the new expanded Library in the Village is one of the best things to happen in Big Park in a long time. It’s no longer a place just to pick up your library holds. Come on in and see for yourself. We’re in the Big Park Community School at 25 W. Saddlehorn Road. We’re open Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is YOUR community library, and we’re here to serve. And if you want to plan a program or meeting, contact me today to see what we can do for you! Janmarc@lsedonalibrary.org Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit sedonalibrary.org/donate or send your check to Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. And remember, you can direct your gift to the Village Library as well. Thank you! Sedona Public Library Library News Column for Nov 11, 2022 Written by Jan Marc Quisumbing, Program & Marketing Coordinator  As published in the Red Rock News Don't miss the Grand Opening of the Courtyard! It will be loads of fun with a ribbon cutting and remarks, music, chili and chips, marshmallows for roasting around the fire, beverages, bubbles, and more. See you Sunday, November 13 at 3 p.m. until dusk! If you are a regular reader of this column, you remember the Library’s 2020/21 Community Needs Assessment (CNA) with the goal of determining what Sedona and Verde Valley residents needed. That study, and the pandemic, showed us that Sedona wanted a place they could call their own, that would capture the beauty of the landscape, and help build a sense of community that many feared they had lost. It taught us just how hard it is for locals to find the quiet and beauty they cherish in Sedona because of the often-crowded trailheads and streets. We knew we could meet these needs, and we promised we would. In fact, in our CNA Report: The Next Chapter, we laid out the steps for how we would make community space a reality. We provided the details in our 2021-2024 Strategic Plan, and we have made good on our word. First by opening a full-service library in the Village of Oak Creek which opened a year ago today, and now it is my honor to present to you Chapter One: The Courtyard at Sedona Public Library! This new beautiful, convenient, safe, and easily accessible courtyard and patio is a gorgeous extension to the Library that has served this community for 65 years. It includes the Friends Fire Circle (think music and stories around the fire), a stage (think drumming, poetry, speakers, plays), and comfortable seating areas, umbrellaed tables, Wi-Fi, and a water station—think meetings and presentations, reading a book or studying, bringing coffee or lunch and hanging out with a friend, or watching the annular solar 2023 eclipse. The Courtyard connects to the Friends Bookstore, so you can easily shop, too! The options are endless, and we can’t wait to share this beautiful space with you. In his book The Great Good Place, Ray Oldenburg introduced the idea of the “third place” or “great good place.” A “third place” is the anchor and heart of community life—it is an important place to hang out, enjoy lively conversation and good company; it is a place where community is built. A third place is the spot between your “first place” (home) and your “second place” (workspace); it is a social place where people meet, congregate, relax, engage, and make new and meet old friends. We are proud, and honored, to bring Sedona its long overdue “third place.” Chapter One is waiting for you! Please join us for the Grand Opening of the Courtyard! Spend an afternoon with friends and neighbors and enjoy the ribbon cutting with a great line up of speakers to welcome you; acoustic guitar by Brian David; acoustic classic rock by Silent Treatment; the Library’s winning chili from the 2022 Rotary Club of Sedona's Annual Chili Cook-Off; marshmallows for roasting around the Friends Fire Circle; beer from Sedona Beer Co., wine, and much more. See you Sunday, November 13, 3 p.m. until dusk! Thanks to our supporters who helped make this project possible especially the Carroll Family Foundation, Gordon Reiter, and the Friends of Sedona Public Library for whom the Fire Circle was named. And to everyone who has purchased a paver, please come see it on the patio beginning at the grand opening on November 13. If you haven’t bought one yet, you still can! We have three sizes of pavers available: 12”x12” with four lines of text, 18 characters per line for $400; 6”x9” with three lines and 12 characters per line for $175; and 6”x6” with two lines of text, 9 characters per line for $100. Visit sedonalibrary.org to order yours today, or stop by either library location and pick up an order form. At Sedona Public Library, we believe that libraries should be thriving, vibrant places that offer materials, programs, services, and spaces designed specifically for their communities. We know our community deserves a library like that, and that’s why we can’t wait to see you on the Courtyard beginning on November 13 at the Grand Opening. Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit sedonalibrary.org/donate or send your check to Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. Sedona Public Library Library News Column for Nov. 4, 2022 Written by Judy Poe, Library Director As published in the Red Rock News
Hello Red Rock News readers! We have great news: Sedona Public Library is now open until 8 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. This allows us to better serve the community and the many patrons who typically finish their workday after we have already closed, like Steve. Recently on a Friday, while at our circulation desk wrapping up an email about a prospective library program, I heard a tapping … a tapping on my chamber door. Or to be more specific, the window of our front lobby. (October is “spooky month” so give me some credit for trying to set the mood.) Deep in concentration, I was startled to see the visage of a lone person, silhouetted against the setting sun. “Hark, who goes there, Spirit? Who has come to me on this darkest of nights to rouse me from my deep thoughts?” “It is I, Steve of West Sedona.” (I’ve changed his name to protect his identity and me). “I’ve come to claim that which is mine.” Steve, of course, was referring to the two library books he had placed on hold and that were, at that very moment, sitting on the holds bookshelf behind near where I now stood. But the Library was closed. My dear readers if you did not know, on Fridays and Saturdays, the Library closes at 5 p.m. Disheartened by this news, Steve of West Sedona was about to leave without his books. For me, having been the recipient of lost chances and missed opportunities myself, I knew I could help him out and do one more good deed before I left for the weekend. I learned that Steve had just finished his shift at a local establishment and headed over to the Library to pick up his books and start his weekend on the right note, curled up with a good book. He told me that with his busy work schedule, if he’s unable to get to the Library during the week, it throws the proverbial monkey wrench into his weekend plans. This made me stop and realize that my schedule includes a typical nine-to-five workday and not everyone is as fortunate. As I handed Steve of West Sedona his books, I wished him well and told him he didn’t have to worry about not having enough time to make it to the Library to pick up his holds or peruse the stacks anymore. The Library is now open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays to accommodate people just like him. The positive comments and smiles of surprise we’ve seen from patrons walking through our doors after 6 p.m. on Wednesday these last three weeks has been great. “We love the library and thank you so much for being open late,” is a common response. We’re happy to hear it, and we’re happy we can provide that service. It’s the simple things we do that can make positive changes go a long way. Where are all the night owls? Come by and say “hello.” We’re open and here to serve our community. If you’re just getting out of work at 6 p.m. and need to check email, pick up a hold, or attend a Wednesday night program, we’re now open late. We’re here for you. Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit sedonalibrary.org/donate or send your check to Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. Sedona Public Library Library News Column for Oct 28, 2022 Written by Jan Marc Quisumbing, Program & Marketing Coordinator As published in the Red Rock News
On Saturday, October 1, Sedona Public Library celebrated the new Village Library with Novel Night, an inaugural fundraising event designed to celebrate literature, literacy, community, and ultimately food, fun, and friends. The event was a tremendous success, and as hoped, it serves as the first of what we trust will become a signature event for Big Park / Village of Oak Creek and for Sedona Public Library in the Village. First and foremost, thank you to the 90 guests, 25 themed-dinner hosts, 43 individuals and businesses who contributed twice as many items for the silent auction, both of our sponsors, all of the Library staff, and dozens of volunteers including the planning committee. As they say . . . it takes a Village! With all your help, we made well over $16,000, a solid beginning for this important new library. So as the fun and colorful evening ensued, the question arose again and again: “How did you come up with this fundraiser idea—to host several book-themed costume dinner parties in the community followed by an After Party back at the Library? Well, it is a good idea, and I did what all great writers and event planners do: I stole it! When I first applied for my position at Sedona Public Library, the hiring committee asked me to present a fundraiser for the library. Having managed fundraisers of all sorts for different non-profit organizations, it was a relatively easy task. But specifically for a library? Sounded fun. So, as all great researchers do, I went to Google! There I found Novel Night, an event for the Town of Pelham Public Library in New York. This event is produced by the non-profit Friends of the Town of Pelham Public Library who have curated Novel Night so well that they now do it bi-annually with 40 parties hosting 20+ guests each. It is definitely the signature event for this small town with population and history not unlike Sedona and Big Park / Village of Oak Creek. Well, needless to say, I got the job, and six years later it was the Village Library supporters who most enthusiastically embraced the idea of this novel fundraiser. Thus, with the work of a small committee who met for the first time a year ago, we pulled it off earlier this month. And I could rave on about how great I think it was, but I’m the creator. So, let’s hear what a few guests had to say about the inaugural Novel Night. “Novel Night was such a fun evening. The food was fabulous, and I was able to meet numerous new people. I also really enjoyed the After Party where we were able to see all the costumes while indulging in champagne and a plethora of yummy desserts. The event was incredibly well organized. I sure hope they do it again next year!” From Cindy who attended the party Calling All Suffragettes and Suffragents, primary host Carolyn Fisher based on “Stories from Suffragette City” by M.J. Rose and Fiona Davis. “Books? Trivia? Riddles? Contrariwise rules? Croquet with a flamingo and hedgehogs? Amazing costumes? This fundraiser couldn't get any better - only it did. We supported our VOC branch of Sedona Public Library by eating, drinking, and socializing with like-minded book lovers. No one lost their head and everyone made it safely to the After Party for even more fun. I admit that I didn't win any of the (amazing) silent auction items. The competition was fun and fierce, and I was distracted by the plates of chocolates everywhere. Count us in for next year!” From Jackie who attended A Mad Tea Party with primary host Margaret Davis and celebrating “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll. “Success!!! The Novel Night was a total success! We so enjoyed the whole evening. The dinner party was fun…the food delicious. The After Party was so well planned and executed. Tish did great job with the silent auction and setup. The music contributed a wonderful ambiance. And, the dessert bites and champagne were yummy. Well done! We can’t wait to be a part of it next year!!! From Jennette who attended one of two Meet the Gatsby’s parties, this one hosted by Tom and Jane Binnings, celebrating “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. “The evening was delightful, enjoyable, fun and a smashing success . . . my thanks to the staff who worked so hard to provide this memorable evening for us on behalf of the Sedona Public Library in the Village . . . clearly demonstrating your dedication and loyalty . . . At closing of the dinner I attended, several guests complimented Library personnel for their creativity and expressed their sincere appreciation for the superb organization of the event and their gratitude for the new Library in the Village. Everyone asked if we would do this next year. The idea blossomed into a unique event that will be long-remembered; but more importantly, serve as a reminder of the importance of libraries.” From Linda who attended Around the World, with primary host Chuck Marr, and celebrating “Around the World in 80 Days.” Thank you, again, to everyone who made this night a success, and if you didn’t get your ticket this year, be sure to do so next year. Or if you think you’d like to host a party, let me know soon! And, if you’d like to support Sedona Public Library in the Village? You can, just visit sedonalibrary.org/donate. Thanks! Sedona Public Library Library News Column for October 21, 2022 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director |
