 As published in the Red Rock News
Library Lovers Month is celebrated nationally throughout the month of February, and Sedona Public Library regularly participates in the fun. This year, we wanted to turn the tradition on its head, and say “We Love You” instead. Your library loves you, Sedona! All of you, and we’re showing our love in small and large ways. For instance, patrons can receive a coupon to pay off fines. Replacement cards are free, and on Fridays we’re providing goody bags with the coupon, a notepad, button, chocolate, and more. Kay Bork, former employee and volunteer said, “What a nice surprise to receive your library goody bag on Friday! It's a great way to connect with patrons even while we're socially distancing.” One of the most important ways we love our community is through our many partnerships. SedonaKind joined the fun and installed a “Kindness Tree” in the children’s room. Kids and families can write a recent act of kindness on a heart-shaped ornament and hang it on the tree. Kind acts noted so far include: “I taught my dad how to play ‘Deck the Halls;’” and “I helped my friend with their homework.” Another important partnership is with Sedona Area Homeless Alliance (SAHA). They collect supplies (sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, etc.) for distribution to the homeless. A local expert reported approximately 125 homeless in the area early this winter. “What we all experience with COVID,” they suggested, “is similar to what homeless people experience every day. The loneliness and the isolation.” And the highest priority for the homeless is a safe place to sleep. While the Library can’t provide safe sleep, Ryan Dowd, a national expert on the homeless and author of The Librarian's Guide to Homelessness, says, “There is one word, and that word is SOCKS!” Why socks, you ask? Great question. Dowd explains that individuals experiencing homelessness walk around a lot, in all kinds of weather. Imagine not having a warm, dry home, let alone warm, dry feet, during the storm we had a few weeks ago. So what has your library done? We’ve created a “Sox Box.” The box for sock donations is in the lobby in West Sedona and near the door at our service center in the Village. We’re asking everyone to help us fill the box with socks. Dowd recommends plain socks, and tube socks, if available, because they go up the calf and keep more of the body warm. And, finally, men’s socks. Why? They’re larger and can be worn by anyone, even children. According to Cheri Baldwin, board member and volunteer at Sedona Community Food Bank, there are at least 36 currently known homeless or foster children in the area. Cheri mentioned SedonaKind has established a clothing room at Red Rock High School, and socks are always a popular item. For Sedona Public Library to make this effort is not unlike many libraries across the nation. According to the American Library Association, “Access to library and information resources, services, and technologies is essential for all people, especially the economically disadvantaged.” Across the country, there’s been increasing discussion of how libraries can address homelessness and mental health issues. A 2018 report by the Chicago Tribune estimated there are now more than 30 library systems across the country with full-time social workers. Seattle Public Library has librarians that regularly set up small stations in tent cities throughout the vicinity. Granted, Sedona is a much smaller city, but it is worth noting that from Flagstaff to Cottonwood there are five homeless shelters and in Sedona, SAHA stays busy. Additionally, Manzanita Outreach, a food provider in Cottonwood, sees approximately 600 cars every two weeks in their curbside food box pickup program. Cheri Baldwin says that Sedona Community Food Bank assists approximately 150 people a week. Sedona Public Library is proud to support organizations that do the work that we can’t do like providing certain services to our disadvantaged patrons. What the Library does offer is an array of resources, just ask a librarian, and literature, here are some items on homelessness from our collection that might interest you. For movie buffs, please consider watching The Public, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. If fiction is your thing, we have Booker Prize 2020 shortlist Burnt Sugar, by Avni Doshi. If you like nonfiction, you might read Journeys out of Homelessness: The Voices of Lived Experience, by Jamie Rife. Our youth services librarians recommend the YA novel Crenshaw, by Katherine Applegate (2015), and children’s picture book A Chair for My Mother, by Vera B. Williams (2009). Come on by, read for a while, scan our resources, and be sure to pick up a goody bag and a “My Library Loves Me” button. Wear it this month, wear it always, and let everyone know your library loves you. Finally, please consider coming by with new socks for our box. We’re about 30 percent full, and we know we can get there with your help. As Ryan Dowd says, “Instantly the world is a better place. Remember, empathy is the answer.” Sedona Public Library Column for February 19, 2021 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director  As published in the Red Rock News
Let's go birdwatching! Sedona Public Library has a new Birdwatching Kit available for checkout! It has everything you need to engage children in learning about the birds of North America. We’re excited about this new addition to our Youth Services collection, and we can’t wait for you to stop by and take one home! What’s in the Birdwatching Kit, you ask? Everything but the birds! First, it includes four books, both fiction and nonfiction, about birds! For example, you can use Jennifer Ward’s I Love Birds!: 52 Ways to Wonder, Wander, and Explore Birds with Kids to guide you and even help you create a yard map to document your landscape, the birds, and the wildlife that frequently visit! Second, there’s all kinds of equipment to help you explore and go birding! The kit includes both adult and children’s binoculars, as well as a bird call identifier to help you listen and learn the songs of a blue jay, a Steller’s jay, and many more! You’ll have fun talking to your birds! Which ones will you call? Third, you’ll need maps, and we’ve got those, too! In the Birdwatching Kit, you’ll find the Verde River Valley Birding Trail Map and the Birds of Arizona Field Guide. Take a walk at Red Rock State Park and you might spot a common black hawk or a rufous hummingbird. Everyone’s excited about the kit and our growing resources! We collected resources from our community, and library patrons have contributed the Verde River Valley Birding Trail Map and the Dead Horse Ranch State Park & Verde River Greenway Checklist of Birds in the Park and Vicinity to our Birdwatching Kit! It’s a joy to collaborate with bird lovers and experts, and the community. We welcome any resources as we continue to grow our offerings! Finally, what would a Birdwatching Kit be without games? Our kit includes bird versions of popular games such as Bird Bingo, where you’ll learn about 64 species of birds from around the world. Would you be able to recognize the puffin or the kookaburra? You can also play Audubon Bird Spotting-Opoly and collect bird species, eggs, and nests to win! Our Birdwatching Kit is perfect for any parent, guardian, grandparent, or teacher looking for new educational and fun activities for children! It’s great for learning pods, classrooms, after-school programs, homeschoolers, or anyone who is interested in learning about our fine-feathered friends. The Birdwatching Kit is best suited for elementary school-aged children and older, but children of all ages and even adults will love it, too! Sedona Public Library’s Birdwatching Kit is one of many activities in our STEAM programming at Youth Services. Any of our kits can be checked out for up to three weeks. To learn more about our kits and other STEAM programming, please visit sedonalibrary.org or call Youth Services at (928) 282-7714 x 119. STEAM kits and STEAM programming are supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Sedona Public Library Column for February 12, 2021 Written by Viviane Kraus, Youth Services Librarian  As published in the Red Rock News
As the snow melts and we head into spring, a season of renewal, all of us at Sedona Public Library look ahead with excitement to wildflowers, warmer mornings, and longer days. With this idea of “looking forward,” we’re working on new ways to bring engaging and exciting programming to Sedona and the Verde Valley. We believe in partnerships, and our partnership with Camp Verde Community Library and Cottonwood Public Library is a powerful one, creating new programs and collections to share and celebrate the talent here in the Verde Valley. In our upcoming presentation made possible by this partnership, authors return to the Library in a new way—virtually! We invite you to join us for a virtual author presentation featuring much-loved Arizona author Roger Naylor to discuss his new guidebook, Arizona’s Scenic Roads & Hikes: Unforgettable Journeys in the Grand Canyon State. In this presentation, Naylor will also share images from his new book, some by local photographer Mike Koopsen, followed by an audience Q&A. Whether you are looking for gorgeous scenic drives or new hikes to fall in love with, Naylor has suggestions for everyone to enjoy Arizona. As Naylor describes, readers can “travel from sun-kissed deserts to the summits of snow-capped mountains, from the cosmic abyss of the Grand Canyon to the red rocks of Sedona and the soaring monoliths of Monument Valley. Visit ancient Native American villages, chase Old West legends, and get your kicks on Route 66.” The guide thoughtfully pairs attractions and activities with hiking trails of all levels of difficulty, making it easy to plan an exciting and varied road trip sure to fit anyone’s interests. Naylor even provides suggested routes organized by region and provides suggestions for locally owned places to eat or stay! Naylor has drawn large audiences in his previous presentations. Kay Bork, former staff member and volunteer, says, "Roger Naylor is a local treasure with a state-wide reputation. His presentations combine vast knowledge with great enthusiasm, and, after hearing him on several occasions, I am definitely a member of his fan club." Another fan and library patron, Michelle Barrett, says that Naylor “brings his infectious love of Arizona, travel, and exploration to life with his great humor and personal stories for a most enjoyable and memorable presentation. I left the Sedona Library laughing and ready to hit the roads, trails, and eateries with a couple of his books stashed in my backpack. One of the best programs I've attended at the Library.” Registration is required for this free event. Please visit sedonalibrary.org and follow the link on our homepage. You can check out the following titles also by Roger Naylor at sedonalibrary.org: Arizona Kicks on Route 66 and The Amazing Kolb Brothers of Grand Canyon: Photographers, Adventurers, Pioneers. For recommendations on other related books and materials, just ask a librarian when you stop by either location or give us a call. We invite you to look forward with us, into the spring and into the future. Step out of winter and into nature, with Roger’s guidebook to show you new ways to explore our beautiful state. Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and we welcome your support. Please visit sedonalibrary.org/donate today and make an online donation. You can also make your tax-deductible donation by mailing a gift to 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. Sedona Public Library Column for February 5, 2021 Written by Chelsea Burk, Program & Marketing Coordinator  As published in the Red Rock News
It’s tax time! Sedona Public Library is pleased to announce that we will again offer free AARP Tax-Aide assistance in partnership with AARP Foundation. Services will be offered beginning on Tuesday, February 16, through Thursday, April 15, but it’s going to be different this year. There will be no walk-in service. Tax-Aide assistance will be by appointment only through an AARP volunteer. As the Library and AARP Foundation are dedicated to being Covid-safe, this is an important change. Please read the information below to learn how the tax preparation service will work this year. According to Larry Dreyfuss, local organizer, there are three simple steps this year for taxpayers:
Socially-distanced appointments will take place at Sedona Public Library in the Community Room or Quiet Study. Taxpayers should arrive exactly at their scheduled appointment time. Please do not arrive early, as we cannot guarantee that there will be socially-distanced seating available. Please remember that masks must be worn properly and at all times when in the Library. Larry Dreyfuss is a longtime library volunteer. Prior to Covid-19, Dreyfuss worked with our interlibrary loan system, with mailings, and with book filing. He has also volunteered with AARP Tax-Aide for several years. This year, Dreyfuss is spearheading the program, and we are grateful for his help in making this important service available. Dreyfuss asks for your patience, as in all things during Covid-19, as we work through any kinks in providing this service. We are dedicated to having Covid safety precautions in place. Most importantly, there is no walk-in service. In order to meet with an AARP volunteer, you must call (928) 793-3346 to schedule your appointment. Every year, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides tax preparation assistance free of charge to anyone, with a special focus on taxpayers who are 50 or older or who have low to moderate income. Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to make sure they know about and understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code. Sedona Public Library has provided a location for this service for more than a decade. Additional information on AARP Foundation can be found here. Finally, Dreyfuss said, “Thanks so much, Sedona Public Library, for doing this! Sedona is grateful!” And we are grateful to you, Larry, and to AARP Foundation. Happy tax season! Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization where your tax-deductible gifts are always welcome. Learn more at sedonalibrary.org/donate. Sedona Public Library Column for January 29, 2021 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director  Hello Sedona! I am excited and honored to be the new Director at Sedona Public Library. This is easily the highlight of my library career, and I feel humbled and privileged to lead such an important institution in such a beautiful city. Along with new Assistant Director Eric Petersen and a gifted and talented staff, I am here to meet and exceed your information, educational, and entertainment needs. More than that, we are all working hard to become an even stronger center of community connection. I hope that piques your curiosity!
As mentioned in last week’s column, we have big plans for the coming year. I’d like to share just a bit of what we’ve been working on, and what this means for our community. As many of you know, we are finishing up a broad and successful Community Needs Assessment project that will drive our work on a new strategic plan. What exactly does that mean? Let me explain. Last year, we applied for a Library Services & Technology Act grant through the Arizona State Library* for funding to hire a library consultant who could guide us through the process known as a “community needs assessment.” Excited to receive this grant, we began our work late last summer. The goal of our assessment is to find out what’s on the minds of folks in our community—specifically, what they see as issues, and what their aspirations for our fair city are. We interviewed nearly 50 individuals: from government officials and staff to the leaders of Sedona’s nonprofits, from neighbors and friends to historians and writers. It was a marvelous experience to touch base with so many members of the community. Thank you for sharing your time! Of course, in Sedona, we couldn’t have these conversations without asking for everyone’s “Sedona story.” Wow! While so many of us were motivated to move here by the landscape and incredible beauty, the variety of paths and journeys that led everyone to this town were fascinating. Oh, the stories you told…what amazing lives you have lived. Most importantly, though, we learned what’s on people’s minds. Yes, Covid-19 is our immediate concern, but we also heard about traffic, tourism, and the problem of affordable housing. We learned about our residents’ deep sense of pride, loyalty, and love for Red Rock Country, and we learned that we are a community that cares deeply about sustainability—our climate, land, and water. While all is not perfect in this beautiful little town—there are many issues to be addressed—we sensed that everyone is passionate about becoming the best that we can be. You might be wondering: how is this a project for the Library? That’s easy. Because the Library’s job is to engage and inform and enrich and inspire its community by addressing its needs and celebrating its dreams. As your new Library Director, my goals are all grounded in connection. Connecting people to people, questions to answers, volunteers to opportunities, organizations to partners—I believe that creating and strengthening these connections is how a community thrives. What we didn’t ask is how the Library can help. Why not? Because that’s our job. We asked you to tell us what’s on your minds, and now we will do the work of addressing your concerns with our services, programs, collection, and more. My first and most crucial task at Sedona Public Library is to work with our staff and Board of Trustees to write our new strategic plan. Once it’s finalized and approved by our Board of Trustees, we’ll present it to you, and I know you’ll be excited to see how your library will broaden and deepen its role as the heart of Sedona. Again, thank you to everyone who participated in our Community Needs Assessment. Please stay tuned as we do the work and unveil a strong, exciting, and aspirational plan for a library that will continue to connect this community. My door is always open. I want to personally connect with as many of you as I can, and I am so looking forward to conversations in a post-Covid world. Please remember that we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and always welcome your support and your gifts. Visit sedonalibrary.org/donate to easily make an online gift, feel free to come by, or drop your check in the mail to 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. *Library Services & Technology Act funding comes through the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records which is a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Sedona Public Library Column for January 22, 2021 Written by Judy Poe, Library Director  Thank you! I don’t know what else to say, so I’ll say it again. Thank you.
Over 210 donors stepped up to support Sedona Public Library in our 2020 end-of-year campaign. With your help, we met the matching gift provided by a long-time donor and volunteer. As your support poured in, the match grew from its original $15,000 to $30,000. We met that final matching gift amount by December 29, and the gifts continued coming in through midnight on New Year’s Eve. Thank you! Joel DeTar, Board of Trustees President, beamed with gratitude at the news of the successful campaign. “This is unprecedented,” he said. “And it’s due to an unprecedented number of generous supporters. Thanks to each and every one.” There has not been a show of support in an end-of-year campaign like this for Sedona Public Library since we first began this fundraising effort several years ago. We are proud to know that you believe in Sedona Public Library’s mission, something that is especially meaningful during these crazy times. Libraries matter, and you embraced the importance of this wise investment. This vote of confidence bolsters us as we move through our days; your generous investment is as good as marching orders for our future. We’ve listened. We are so glad to know the community cares, and that you’re watching. The words “engage, inform, enrich, and inspire”—as our mission promises we will do—were not all that guided us in 2020. We were also led by community needs and our new goal of providing safety and comfort during a pandemic. Technology improvements, air quality upgrades, Covid-19 safety standards, curbside and doorway holds pickup service, and our new online programs are just a few of the things we did last year. Going forward? Judy Poe, our new Library Director, has weighed in. “We are working on big plans for this coming year,” Judy said. “We are finishing up a broad and successful Community Needs Assessment project that will inform our work on a brand new strategic plan for the Library.” While a library might be an assumed part of a community (not unlike a water company, post office, or playground) we want Sedona Public Library to stand out as the center of the community. As reliable as a water company, but as unique as the people who use our services. “We want our library to pique your curiosity,” Judy explains, “as well as satisfy your need for information, engagement, entertainment, connection, and access.” Thank you, again, for your support and trust in Sedona Public Library. Times have changed and continue to change. We will always work hard to stay up to date, and better yet, to stay more than a step ahead. May your New Year be full of hope, health, and hugs. Thanks again. Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization where your gifts are always welcome. Learn more at sedonalibrary.org/donate. Sedona Public Library Column for January 15, 2021 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director  Please join us for the 26th Annual Quilt Show and see more than 50 amazing hand-crafted quilts on display against the architectural beauty of the Library. We again ring in the New Year with a visual feast brought to you by the Red Rock Quilters and Sedona Public Library. Enjoy the exhibit from January 11 through March 6, 2021.
Come on in and take a self-directed tour of the show. Browse the quilts hanging in the Main Room of the Library on the rafters and walls. Printed guides will be available to help you as you wander. The guide provides a photo and description of each quilt and will indicate if a quilt is for sale. Don’t forget to vote for your one favorite quilt in each of three categories for the “Viewers’ Choice” Awards. Viewers’ Choice Awards will be presented for 1) large quilts; 2) small/wall quilts; and 3) favorite challenge quilt. This year’s challenge was “Those Red Rocks Aren’t Really Red.” Judges will also select one quilt for the Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame Award. This annual tribute to the art form of quilting is one of the Library’s most popular events. Required social distancing and masks will not inhibit your ability to peruse the amazing local talent during the Library’s open hours: Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. This year’s show features many red rock-inspired creations, as well as others, and the entries are . . . well, they’re all gorgeous! Read on for details about just a few of the dozens that you’ll be able to view starting next week. Don’t miss “Sonoran Spring” by Pat Loomis (#3). This colorful quilt reminds Pat of her favorite desert season: spring! She has hidden an assortment of curious critters among the desert blooms, all in the bright batiks and florals she chose from her “stash” of fabrics. While an exercise in patience, Pat explained, she says it was worth it for this creation that she loves. We do, too! Celebrating the sense of dignity she found in a vintage black and white photograph, LeAnn Hileman created “Navajo Boy with Truck” (#30) and transformed the faded image into a brightly colored quilt. LeAnn was inspired by the boy’s comfortable pose and she quilted the truck so that even if you’re not a car buff, you’ll love her historic automotive detail. Another piece inspired by photography is Deb Deaton’s “Day into Night” (#41). Deb felt compelled to capture with fiber the splendor of the desert sky as depicted in a Robert Murray photo. This stunning work includes a hand-painted sky and hand-dyed fabric. It’s a mixed media sensation that might just drop your jaw. And, finally, get ready to be mesmerized by Deborah L. Staats’ “Kaleidoscope Round & Round” (#43) with its connected circles of blue. Deb used English paper piercing as well as beads and sequins to get your eyes' attention on this unique quilt. Enjoy! Please come by to see one of the Library’s most popular and well-loved annual shows. And be sure to tell your family and friends about this opportunity to do something fun, artistic, and free, available for nearly two months! Please remember the Library abides by social distancing and mask wearing requirements. Rest assured, while here, you are breathing the cleanest, safest, and freshest air with our recent installation of a new UV Air Pure Air Scrubber System. The special UV lights and photo catalyst technology protect and purify the air and attack contaminants on all surfaces. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your gifts supplement the funding and support we receive from the City of Sedona, Coconino and Yavapai County property taxes, and Friends of the Sedona Library. Visit sedonalibrary.org/donate to make an online gift. Thank you! Sedona Public Library Column for January 8, 2020 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director  People often ask me to recommend books. I am an avid reader, and I am always happy to introduce patrons to new titles and authors. For 2021, I’ve made a list of 21 books that I recommend and hope you’ll enjoy reading as much as I did.
It was difficult narrowing my list to 21 titles; however, these books have made a lasting impression on me. When compiling this list, I selected books that are available in various formats from the Yavapai Library Network. Fiction:
Nonfiction:
You can find more information about each title or author by searching the library catalog at sedonalibrary.org. For newer titles, you may have to wait for a copy if the book is on the bestseller list. If you need assistance locating a title, placing a hold, renewing items you have checked out, receiving your PIN, or updating your account information, please contact the library at 928-284-1603 or email voc@sedonalibrary.org. We are here to help and look forward to assisting you in 2021. As the new year begins, we would like to acknowledge our community for continuing to support library services during these challenging times. A special shout out goes to Clark’s Market for designating Sedona Public Library as a recipient of their Non-Profit Monday program. Thanks to Dave Miller, store manager, and the crew at Clark’s for encouraging shoppers to support the library. Thank you Clark’s Market and shoppers for your generous gift of $1,572 to support library services. Sedona Public Library Column for January 1, 2021 Written by Cheryl L. Yeatts, Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village  The best thing about this time of year, especially in a year like we’ve just had, is it offers a time to reflect and to be grateful. Sedona Public Library would like to say thank you for your interest, participation, patience, and for your support this past year.
Our world, our states, and our towns have all changed this year. But there is one thing that simply hasn’t changed, not fundamentally, and that’s us, Sedona Public Library. We promise you that no matter the impact of the pandemic, your library is here to stay. We will continue as guided by the needs and the safety of the community. Our dedication to our mission is solid, and we’re taking every opportunity to better serve you during this complicated time. We’d thought it would be fun to share some stories from the Library and show you how our work this year has had significant reach in the community and beyond.
These are just a few of the stories showing the impact the Library has on lives locally, and beyond. We look forward to all the stories a new year will bring, and we ask for your support as we write the next chapter. Supporting the Library is supporting the community. We’re excited that with a gift from a generous donor and volunteer, your gifts will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $15,000, through the end of the month. Maybe you’ll consider a new or increased recurring gift? We also welcome gifts of stock, donor advised funds, or charitable qualified distributions. And remember, with the CARES Act, your cash gift of up to $300 to Sedona Public Library may qualify for the new Temporary Universal Charitable Deduction. How you give, or how often, is up to you, but rest assured it’s up to us to keep the community connected, and we do. Visit sedonalibrary.org/donate to make an online gift, drop off a gift at our west Sedona or Village location, or send a gift to3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. And thanks. Happy holidays and Happy New Year from all of us at Sedona Public Library, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, serving Sedona and both Coconino and Yavapai Counties. Sedona Public Library Column for December 25, 2020 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director  Sedona Public Library has come a long way from its starting point in 1958. What has never changed is the Library’s role as the heart of the community, a place where individuals of all ages can discover new authors, encounter new ideas, and, for so many people, make new friends.
As I leave my position as director after 11 years, I’m proud of the many accomplishments that we’ve made as a team, always a collaborative effort. I felt the same way when I left after my first tenure as director from 1979 to 1985. The number of people who have been involved with the Library’s establishment and growth is staggering. Thousands of donors, hundreds and hundreds of volunteers, and numerous dedicated board members and staff have worked together for over 60 years to build two different buildings, to run the day-to-day operations, and to administer this nonprofit library. I’d like to acknowledge those librarians who played a significant role in the history of the Library, starting with Ray Maloney. She was one of the prime movers in the effort to establish a library in Sedona. Pearl Huntting was librarian from 1962 to 1970, during the effort to raise funds for the Jordan Road library and its opening and early years. Cecil Brown, who was librarian during most of the 1970s, returned for a short time to help transition to a new director. When I came to Sedona in 1979 it was my pleasure to learn the ropes from her. Joan Duke followed me in 1985 and served in the position for nine years, during the successful fundraising, planning, and construction of the White Bear Road facility. I’m grateful to David Keeber, for his 15 years as library director starting in 1993, leading the team in moving from Jordan Road to White Bear Road and opening the new building with enough square footage to create a true community gathering space. When I returned as director in 2009, I came back to a city that had doubled in population and a library building five times the size of the previous one. I felt incredible respect for what the community accomplished in the years that I was away. I’ve been proud to continue many of the well-loved traditions. Last year marked 25 years of the annual Quilt Show, and the show will go on again in 2021. As the community has grown we’ve created new programs and services, including the Culture Pass, StoryWalk at Sunset Park, Coffee with a Veteran, up-to-date technology, e-books, streaming movies, and a new bookstore for the Friends of the Sedona Library. I’ve been truly fortunate to serve this community as director of the Sedona Public Library and work with a dedicated and talented group of staff and volunteers who have made coming to work a pleasure. It is with a sense of satisfaction that I leave and a profound sense of gratitude to all who have helped make this library the jewel of Sedona. I’m pleased to be leaving the Library in good hands. Incoming director Judy Poe has a wealth of library experience. As assistant director for almost two years, she knows the Sedona community and the Library well. With the support of the rest of the well-qualified staff, library board, and volunteers, the Library is certain to thrive and grow in exciting new ways. I look forward to spending time as a patron of the Library as I retire in Sedona, with more time for leisure reading and time to attend programs. And I look forward to seeing you in the Library, on the trails and around town! Sedona Public Library Column for December 18, 2020 Written by Virginia Volkman, Director |
