I can still remember my first encounter with rock and roll music. I was about 12 years old, and I had gone to the Orpheum Theater to see the new film “Rock Around the Clock.” The beat and the gyrations of the musicians totally captivated me—and perhaps there was a smidge of adolescent rebellion involved.
 
Flash forward more than six decades. I now work as a reference librarian at Sedona Public Library.   Imagine my delight upon learning that the theme for our 2018 summer reading program for adults is “Libraries Rock.”  I’m excited by the range of programs we’ll be offering all summer long related to this theme, which we have expanded to include many different types of music.
 
The general format of this year’s program will be similar to last year’s, with participants logging their reading hours to become eligible for weekly prizes donated by local merchants. These prizes include gift certificates for restaurants, stores, services, and entertainment venues. There will also be a grand prize awarded at the end of the program.
 
Last year’s participants asked us to organize more events in conjunction with the adult summer reading program; we listened and are excited to follow up on your suggestion. Our kick-off event will be held on Friday, June 1, featuring library patron and professional musician Jim Sheridan performing his own compositions.  If you have concert T-shirts, please wear them, and bring your rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia for a show-and-tell session.
 
At the kick-off event, staff members will showcase their talents, including a teaser to entice you to a screening of the popular musical film “Mamma Mia!” on July 11.  (As “Mamma Mia!” fans may know, the sequel, “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again,” will appear in movie theaters later this summer.)
 
A special way to celebrate music is by attending free public concerts sponsored by the City of Sedona’s Parks and Recreation Department. Reading program participants will gather to listen to live music in the beautiful outdoor setting of Posse Grounds Pavilion on June 8 and June 22.
 
There will be two book discussions: the featured titles are the Bruce Springsteen biography “Born to Run” and Sheila Weller’s “Girls Like Us:  Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon—And the Journey of a Generation.”  Our grand finale, an ice cream social, is scheduled for Friday, July 27.
 
Registration begins on May 21; you can sign up at the main library in West Sedona on White Bear Road, Sedona Public Library in the Village in Bell Rock Plaza, or online. Last year more than 100 adult library patrons participated, and we hope to top that number in 2018.  Let’s rock on!
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) 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.

​Sedona Public Library
Column for May 18, 2018
Written by Kay Bork, Reference Librarian

What better way to begin Sedona Public Library’s 60th anniversary year, and to bring a finale to national poetry month, than with a poem by Sedona’s very own Mary Heyborne.
 
Heyborne wrote “On the Dedication of Sedona Library” in 1994 in response to the dedication of the Library on White Bear Road. How perfect to have this poet read her poem at the recent kickoff event when we not only celebrated 60 years of Library service, but announced the renovation of the same 24-year-old facility and asked for community input.
 
Twenty-four years can be pretty rough on a structure, no matter how big and strong it may be. Imagine a building that has nearly 200,000 visits each year. Millions of strolls make for a lot of wear and tear. But just as Heyborne’s poem tells us, the Library is so much more than its parts.
 
“Two solid arms of stone reached out
and drew us near the door
of something more than columns
and roof, and walls, and floor.”
 
And while we are bigger than the stone and rafters that give the building its breadth and beauty, bigger than the broad collection we offer in our stacks and online, we are not bigger than the obligation to sustain, as Heyborne called it, “Sedona’s jewel.”
 
She says of the building’s dedication: “we came—from young to very old—with promises to keep.”
 
Now, in an effort to be true to the promise that Sedona will have a public library which welcomes everyone, enriches lives, and engages all, we have our work cut out for us. We will continue to be the “dream come true” Heyborne refers to in her poem, always making our patrons’ comfort, safety, and access the priority. With 60 strong years under our belt, we’re heading into the next six decades with confidence.
 
Heyborne’s poem reflects on how the Library not only brought people together for an important event, but that it served as a catalyst for “community” to reach beyond its differences in the early stages of becoming a city.
 
“These rites, expressing future hopes
born of a common past,
saw separateness exalted to
community at last.”

Today, a library’s role to bring people together continues to evolve and expand. Every year at Sedona Public Library, hundreds of gatherings and meetings take place in the spaces we provide. Whether it is to write, discuss, sing, learn, taste, create, listen, or meet, individuals and groups use our rooms. We need to be sure those rooms are state of the art.
 
In order to accomplish an upgrade, improve the current building, and bolster its sustainability, we are keeping the community in mind and requesting your input. Please stop by the main library on White Bear Road, where you will find a conceptual floor plan and pencils and paper to share your ideas. Nothing will be set in stone until we hear from you, so let your voice be heard.
 
Patrons, volunteers, board, and staff have worked hard for years to reach this point and solidify a plan for a few necessary upgrades. Here are some of the ideas under consideration.
 
Additional small meeting spaces are needed to accommodate group and individual use. Our teen area needs some TLC, as does our courtyard. Sturdy and comfortable seating is long overdue, especially where people sit for a while as they do in the community room and at the computers. Our HVAC, carpeting, windows, and plumbing are all ready for an upgrade. Many libraries today, especially in a destination city like Sedona, have a welcome/information station. And, of course, we need up-to-date technology and other accommodations for today’s modern library user.
 
April’s 60th anniversary celebration brought people together to honor the Library and the story it tells. “The story of the Library . . . is the story of all who dreamed and planned and worked and supported the prodigious effort to bring about the reality that is finally here.” (From the “Book of Honor: Donors to the Library Building Fund,” which lists 2,287 donors who joined together to support their dream.)
 
Heyborne referred to the Library as “hallowed space” in her poem. At the April event, Mayor Sandy Moriarty noted that “the Library is a place where you can access peace.” When gathering many voices and perspectives, it always comes back to this: Sedona Public Library is a revered space, well-used and well-loved, and with your help, we will keep it that way forever.

Please share your input: it’s your library, and your voice counts. Come on by, take a tour, pick up our new giving brochure, and review the building’s conceptual plan. 

​Sedona Public Library
Column for May 11, 2018
Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director 

Sedona Public Library’s second community read program is bringing people together to talk about a book they’ve read and to learn more about the Hopi culture and the history of this area.
 
“Read Around Sedona” kicked off in April and has inspired hundreds of community members to read the same book as their neighbors, friends, colleagues, and families, and join Library discussions and events. The Library has more activities lined up for May, based on our selected title “Cha’risa’s Gift,” written by local author Ilana Maletz.
 
The main character of the book is a Hopi medicine woman named Cha’risa. When she learns that her son is questioning his traditional beliefs and culture after forced attendance at an Indian boarding school, Cha’risa begins a journey to help him, not realizing how profoundly this decision will change her own life.

Set against a backdrop of towering red rocks, snowcapped peaks, and sacred canyons, “Cha’risa’s Gift” has a strong connection to Arizona’s landscapes and history and to the diverse culture of the Southwest. The story spans not only three generations of an Arizona family but much of the territory that makes up Northern Arizona. Sedona, Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, and the Hopi mesas all feature prominently in Cha’risa’s story.
 
Please note:  Read Around Sedona will take place at various locations.

​“Vintage Arizona: The Growth, Death, and Rebirth of a Local Wine Industry” on May 5, 1:30 to 3 p.m., Church of the Nazarene in the Village of Oak Creek, presented by Erik Berg. The history of winemaking in Arizona dates back some 200 years. However, the modern winemaking boom did not begin until the 1980s. Now, there are over 50 wineries across the state, with more starting every year. This presentation traces the story of Arizona winemaking, covering topics such as pioneering efforts using wild grapes, Mesa’s forgotten 19th century wine industry, the illegal raisin wineries of the Great Depression, and the unlikely band of aspiring winemakers that led the modern rebirth of Arizona wine.
 
“How I Wrote My Book” Writing Workshop on May 12, 2 to 3:30 p.m., community room at Sedona Public Library. Author Ilana Maletz will discuss her writing process and research methods. Librarian Cheryl Yeatts will provide an overview of research tools available at the Library. Ilana’s book will be for sale following the workshop.  Cost of book is $11, cash or checks only.
 
Tour of Special Collections and Archives on May 16, 10:30 a.m. to noon, NAU’s Cline Library in Flagstaff. Learn about the treasures found in Cline Library’s special collections and archives, including letters, diaries, vintage photographs, and maps.  Preregistration is required for this free tour. Register online through the Library’s events calendar or call the Library. Transportation to Flagstaff will not be provided.
 
 As part of our community reading project, the Library will be collecting donations of new personal hygiene items for the Hopi Outreach Program. Please leave your donations at the main library or the Village library.
 
For more information, please contact Sophia Zarifis-Russell, 928-282-7714, ext. 114, or Cheryl Yeatts, 928-284-1603. Thank you for participating in Read Around Sedona. 
 
All Read Around Sedona programs are free and open to the public. This Arizona Community Reads project is 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 May 4, 2018
Written by Cheryl L. Yeatts, Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village

It’s our 60th anniversary – want to help us celebrate? There must be 60 ways to love your library. . .  
1. Check Out a Book – We have more than 64,000 of them!
2. Log on to FREE WiFi – We’re here for you – in two locations.
3. Close Your Eyes, Open Your Heart – Pumphouse Poetry, April 27, 5 p.m.
4. Donate – We’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, happy for your financial support.
5. Watch a Monday Night Movie – Stranger on Horseback, April 30, 6 p.m. It’s FREE!
6. Download a Book – Whaaaat? Yep! It’s free and easy, visit www.sedonalibrary.org.
7. Celebrate Reading with Little Ones – Raising a Reader, 3-5 yr. olds, May 3, 3:30 p.m.
8. Buy a Book – The Friends Used Book Store: great sales and selections. Check it out!
9. Tell Us Your Library Story – You know you’ve got one. Go to www.sedonalibrary.org.
10. Empty Your Change Jar – Donate it to the Library; we’ll do the counting for you!
11. Discuss Cha’risa’s Gift – The Read Around Sedona 2018 book choice, April 30, 6 p.m.
12. Speak French – 1st and 3rd  Tuesdays, 2 p.m.
13. Express Yourself – Join Sedona Writers Salon, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 4 p.m.
14. Write a Check – 60 bucks for 60 years!
15. Have Fun – Crafternoon for Youth! May 2, 2 p.m.
16. Like Us on Facebook – We’re pretty hard not to like.
17. Find a Job – Career Transitions makes it easier; head over to Reference.
18. Conduct Academic Research – Academic OneFile, we’ve got it!
19. Borrow a Book from Faraway through ILL– Tampa, Honolulu, Bridgeport, and more!
20. Ask a Librarian a Question – Make it a tough one, they love a challenge!
21. Be Colorful – Sedona Coloring Club, twice a month, check our calendar.
22. Leaf through an Art Book – Our collection is beautiful.
23. Watch a Favorite Film – We’ve got thousands of DVDs available.
24. Go Rogue – Read a book . . . make it a banned one.
25. Preview a Catalog – We’ve got OLLI’s!
26. Selfie Time – T. rex and Sedona Schnebly are waiting for you.
27. Scan a Document, Send a Fax – We’ve got what you need.
28. Take Up Knitting – Go to 746.42 to learn how.
29. Plan Your Summer Yard – In the latest “Phoenix Home & Garden.”
30. Listen to a Local Healer – Phyllis Hogan from Winter Sun, May 3, 1:30 p.m.
31. Join Our Mailing List – Everything you need to know at sedonalibrary.org
32. Sing! – Music Morning with Annette, May 3, 10:30 a.m.
33. Expand Your Reading Horizons – NoveList Plus finds other authors you might like.
34. Volunteer! – Connect with 150 others who love the Library.
35. Suggest a Book – Maybe we’ll add it to the 64,000.
36. Learn Local Culture and Lore – Wander through our Arizona collection.
37. DATE NIGHT! – We’re open late on Wednesdays . . . Just sayin’.
38. Study the Rocks – SE corner. Geology Wall. Enjoy the view while you’re there.
39. Give on PayPal – It’s easy at sedonalibrary.org
40. Play Chess – Youth Chess Club, Thursdays, 3:45 p.m.
41. Improve Your Spanish – Wednesdays, 6 p.m.
42. Drink Coffee with a Veteran – 2nd Fridays, 10 a.m.
43. Review Important Topics – League of Women Voters, May 3, 6 p.m.
44. Become a Member – The Friends need you, and we need the Friends.
45. Offer Suggestions – We’re fixing up the place, and we need your input. Come on by.
46. Stay in the Know – With the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and more.
47. Be Cultured – Free entry to Arizona museums and more with the Culture Pass.
48. Get a Tan While You’re Skyping – WiFi on the courtyard.
49. Grow the Grandchildren’s Tree – Honor loved ones with a gold, bronze, or silver leaf.
50. Admire Our Indoor Gardens – Carefully tended by local garden club.
51. Let Us Help You Plan Your Visit – And sign up for a visitor’s library card, too.
52. Bring Your Used Books to the Bookstore – Buy a few while you’re there.
53. Tell a Friend; Tell Your Family; Tell Everyone – Sedona Public Library is the BEST!
54. Repeat Your Gift Every Month – Recurring gifts are easy at www.sedonalibrary.org.
55. Balance and Center – We’ve got great quiet spaces so you can get your calm on.
56. Find a Friend – They don’t call us the “Heart of Sedona” for nothing.
57. Access Veterans’ Stories – Veterans History Project, online and in the Library.
58. Improve Your English – Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.
59. Shop with AmazonSmile – And support your public library when you do.
60. Eat Cake! – Join us to celebrate 60 years of serving the community, April 28, 1 p.m.

​Sedona Public Library
Column for April 27, 2018
Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director

A library is one of the most common and relied upon places for collecting stories, and as part of our 60th anniversary celebrations, Sedona Public Library decided to collect a few of our own. Many volunteers, patrons, staff, and visitors have shared their thoughts, memories, and well wishes for the next 60 years. We’d like to share some of their messages.
 
Our storytellers range in age from 9 years old to 75, and there is one 5-month-old baby who would have written if she could. Our writers are both visitors and residents, many who came to Sedona from as far away as New York, Chicago, Knoxville, Houston, Lahaina Hawaii, Canada, and Nepal. Common themes in the submissions include gratitude, awe, relief, and joy. Let’s take a closer look at what people are saying about Sedona Public Library.
 
Jarell, 32, tells us that the staff is “always helpful, kind and informative, and proof that libraries are still relevant and important in an ever-changing society.”
 
Linda, a grandmother, says that Sedona Public Library is the Jewel of Sedona because of “the sense of community the Library creates. (It) promotes good citizenship in children.” She says, “The children learn to share and play together, which is especially important for an only child.”

Julie, 55, writes that the Library is the Jewel of Sedona because “of the wonderful relationship they have with the residents of Sedona Winds. They provide guest speakers and book discussions.”
 
Anne, 73, a local writer, says that the Library has “many, varied books that tickle my brain.” She notes that the Library is “open to ordering new books for the collection and has the latest books we all love and need to read.” Anne refers to the Library as “a type of intellectual Sedona center” and compares the beauty of the Library to none other than the Library of Congress in D.C.
 
So many authors talked about how important the Library was to them when they first moved to Sedona. For instance, we have this from Robin. “When I first moved to Sedona and didn’t know a single person here, the Sedona Library was a refuge where I could sit for hours . . . to help ease the loneliness of a quiet apartment.” Robin now brings her children to the Library and writes that her family loves our Culture Pass, STEM programs, and the ease of using Sedona Public Library in the Village.

Another parent, Emily, 28, mentions how challenging being a new mom is, especially in a foreign country! “The Library has been my sanctuary for meeting other families and building friendships . . . The Library has helped my baby socialize and interact with others in a place where we knew no one.”
 
Chris, 57, here on vacation, said, “The Wi-Fi at the resort was terrible. I had to send a large business email and was able to send this easily over your Wi-Fi. Sedona Public Library is a life saver!”
 
Debra, another writer, spends three months a year in Sedona with her family. “The library is definitely a strong strand of our Sedona experience. She loved the Blind Date with a Book program for Valentine’s Day. “What a novel idea!” She loves the bookstore and the French class and tells us, “As a journalist and author, it is so gratifying for me to see how busy the library is and how much this community thrives because of its vibrant presence.”
 
Pradumna, 12, reflects on how amazing he found the library the first time he entered, and now he always feels happy and relaxed when he enters. “The Library youth services helped me find my true potential in reading.” He loves the chance to read advanced reader editions. “How cool is it to read books that didn’t even come out yet?”
 
And from a former board member, Barbara, 75, who speaks fondly of days long ago. “I served on the fundraising committee for our facility . . . We promoted events such as Cooks for Books, The Lunch Bunch . . . and Dinner in the Stacks.” She notes how hard the board worked and their pride in a library that “contributes as a place of learning for the community.”

There were many notes and wishes, and this one sums them all up: “Thank you Sedona Library, again and again, for all you’ve done to enrich our lives.”
 
We encourage all of you who have used and enjoyed Sedona Public Library to drop us a line. We are grateful to learn how much the Library means to you and your families, and we will collect stories all year long. Visit the Library to pick up a form or find one at sedonalibrary.org. Please join us on April 28, at 1 pm, to kick off our 60th anniversary celebration with song and poetry, an art sale, special guest speakers, refreshments, and of course, more stories!

​Sedona Public Library
Column for April 20, 2018
Written by Anne Marie Mackler

Along with libraries and organizations across the country, we celebrate National Volunteer Week, April 15–22. The friendships made by volunteering are priceless and the benefits to our library are enormous.  We are truly grateful for the nearly 15,000 hours of volunteer service given by 157 volunteers last year.
 
We love our volunteers at Sedona Public Library and we’ve scheduled an Appreciation Brunch on Sunday, April 15, to thank them for their contributions.  Special recognition will be given to these dedicated volunteers who have been training new volunteers:  Tricia Egger, Jeff Harvey, Connie Hinkle, Joyce Kelly, Sandy Kreml, Gerri Perrin, Linda Schermer, Fay Shouse, Kathy Wege and Donna Ruhe.
 
We will also recognize volunteers for their milestone years of service.  Contributing Five Years:  Susan Cohen, Carolyn Daugherty, Pam Dorris, Peggy Fread and Ilana Maletz; Ten Years:  Tricia Egger and Richard Sauck; Fifteen Years:  Hiro Miyakawa and Diane Schwilling; Twenty years:  Don Schwartzmiller.

Sedona is blessed with a wealth of people willing to devote their time and energy to help make the community a vibrant place to live.  As an institution created and sustained by volunteers, Sedona Public Library is well aware of their value.  Our volunteers work both behind the scenes and in the public eye and we couldn’t do it without them.
 
Most volunteers work one shift per week, but many work more.  Some volunteers work for more than one department.  Other volunteers prefer to be on-call only and substitute for volunteers who are away. Most shifts are 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 5 or 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.  Evening shifts are Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m.
 
If you would like to work with others who share a passion for our library, please call Volunteer Coordinator Marisol Molina at 928-282-7714, ext 143 or fill out an application online.  After you fill out an application, we will call you for an interview and in-depth library tour.
 
Join the millions of people who find fulfillment in working with and helping others in their communities. Become a volunteer today!
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, partially supported by the City of Sedona and Yavapai and Coconino Counties.  We also require donations and grants to fund our operations.  Your tax-deductible donation may be made online through our website or sent to:  Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336.

​Sedona Public Library
Column for April 13, 2018
Written by Virginia Volkman, Library Director

April is a month of special holidays, both religious and secular. Many Sedona Public Library patrons celebrate Easter or Passover, and children of all ages enjoy April Fool’s Day.
 
However, you may not know there is another special day in April dedicated to recognizing the hard work, dedication, and expertise of library workers. Appropriately, it is called National Library Workers Day, and this year it’s on April 10. I am excited about this day because the staff at Sedona Library are wonderful and deserve the recognition.
 
I highly encourage you to come down to the Library, in either Sedona or the Village, and thank your favorite library staff worker for all that they do. Another way to honor your favorite is to nominate a library “Star” through the National Library Workers Day website, http://ala-apa.org/nlwd/.
 
Anne Marie, the Library’s development director, once told me that she had never worked before with such humble people. But not today! In this column, I’m proclaiming to the world what a great job we do!
 
Our regular patrons are familiar with many of the front-line staff. Karen Mack, Meghan, and Marcia provide an amazing variety of programs for young people, from babies through teens. There are story times, including bilingual presentations, as well as science activities. The youth services staff works closely with local schools to supplement their educational offerings.
 
Dorothy is our library assistant at the circulation desk. She does a wonderful job of issuing cards and explaining library policies to new patrons. Andrea, Sophia, Mary, Kay, and Marcy staff the reference desk, answering all types of questions and helping patrons with computer problems. And Cheryl, who manages Sedona Library in the Village with help from Marie and a team of volunteers, provides an incredible array of services to residents of the Village.
 
Andrea Christelle is the newest member of our staff, and she can often be found sitting at the desk near the community room. That’s convenient, since her title is program and outreach manager. Contact Andrea for information on scheduling programs in the community room and other library spaces; she is also open to suggestions about possible events that the Library might co-sponsor.

Behind the scenes, there are also stellar library personnel diligently working for the organization. Pamela is our business manager, and she is a wealth of information about running a nonprofit and the procedures and policies here at the Library. You will also find her hosting the Monday night movie, which is one of our most popular programs.  
 
Marisol has the tremendous organizational skills needed for a volunteer coordinator managing over 150 volunteers at the Library and organizing two major appreciation events annually. She interviews, trains, and orients new volunteers and makes sure they are happy in their jobs.
 
Katherine and Karen also work behind the scenes, processing and cataloging new books, DVDs, and audiobooks for both the adult and youth collections. Each month, they add hundreds of new items for our patrons to check out. Elizabeth selects the new items for the collection. John and Brady maintain the facilities, and Zach maintains our computer system.
 
Whatever the tasks or challenges at Sedona Public Library, the staff works hard to meet your needs while providing excellent customer service. But we not only endeavor to fulfill your expectations, we do our best to go the extra mile. And that’s what makes us shine!
 
All of us at Sedona Public Library enjoy our work, and we value our interactions with our patrons. Please join with us, your local library workers, as we celebrate this very special day in our professional world. 

​Sedona Public Library
Column for April 6, 2018
Written by Sophia Zarifis-Russell, Reference Assistant

Sedona Public Library (SPL) has scheduled several events for Read Around Sedona, our community reading project.  Programs are based on our selected title “Cha’risa’s Gift,” written by local author Ilana Maletz.
 
The main character of the book is a Hopi medicine woman named Cha’risa. When she learns that her son is questioning his traditional beliefs and culture after forced attendance at an Indian boarding school, Cha’risa begins a journey to help him, not realizing how profoundly this decision will change her own life.
 
Set against a backdrop of towering red rocks, snowcapped peaks, and sacred canyons, “Cha’risa’s Gift” has a strong connection to Arizona’s landscapes and history and to the diverse culture of the Southwest. The story spans not only three generations of an Arizona family but much of the territory that makes up Northern Arizona. Sedona, Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, and the Hopi mesas all feature prominently in Cha’risa’s story.
 
Please note:  Read Around Sedona programs will take place at various locations. 
 
Read Around Sedona Kick-Off Event. Monday, April 9, 1 to 2:30 p.m., community room at SPL:  Meet Ilana Maletz, author of “Cha’risa’s Gift.” Following the program, the author will be available to answer questions and sign books. Books will be for sale following Ilana’s presentation. Cost of book is $11, cash or checks only.  Credit cards will not be accepted.
 
Community Book Discussion of “Cha’risa’s Gift.”  Tuesday, April 10, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Quiet Study at SPL. 
 
Arizona Stories:  Frontier Characters and Communities. Thursday, April 19, 1:30 to 3 p.m., Sedona Heritage Museum, 735 Jordan Road. Presented by Jim Turner. During this presentation the audience will learn how Arizona evolved from a violent frontier to a just and civil society dedicated to its people’s welfare.
 
The Golden Era of Movie-Making in Sedona. Monday, April 23, 1:30 to 3 p.m., Church of the Nazarene, 55 Rojo Drive in VOC. Presented by Janeen Trevillyan. From cowboys to Elvis’s pink Cadillac, Janeen will share great images from these movie-making days in Sedona and the stories behind them.
 
Screening of “Stranger on Horseback.” Monday, April 30, 6 p.m. in the community room at SPL. This classic Western was partially filmed in Sedona. Local scenes include Red Rock Crossing, Broken Arrow Trail, Schnebly Hill, and Jacks Canyon.  No closed captioning.
 
Community Book Discussion of “Cha’risa’s Gift.”  Monday, April 30, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Quiet Study at SPL.
 
As part of our community reading project, the Library will be collecting donations of new personal hygiene items for the Hopi Outreach Program.  Please leave your donations at the main library or the Village library.
 
Read Around Sedona will continue during May. Check the events calendar on the Library’s website at www.sedonalibrary.org and watch for announcements of additional programs.
 
For more information, please contact Sophia Zarifis-Russell, 928-282-7714, ext. 114, or Cheryl Yeatts, 928-284-1603. Thank you for supporting Read Around Sedona.

​Sedona Public Library
Column for March 30, 2018
Written by Cheryl L. Yeatts, Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village

Sedona Public Library has launched its annual Arizona Gives campaign, and this exciting and modern statewide fundraising effort has led to questions about this strategy. Are popular crowdfunding and social media methods the right way to reach constituents and donors in Sedona? As the Library is celebrating its 60th anniversary, we want to be sure that our older library stays current in a quickly advancing world of communications. I took this opportunity to look at my own fifty-year evolution of fundraising activities.
 
My first nonprofit fundraising effort was walking for the March of Dimes in Detroit, and I literally collected dimes from friends, family and neighbors for each mile that I walked. I was eight years old, and I didn’t completely comprehend how the whole thing worked, but I knew that my dimes would help sick babies. I also knew that hot chocolate and donuts awaited me at the end of the seven-mile walk, and that was strong incentive for a little girl on a chilly Michigan morning.
 
Every autumn at my Catholic high school, we students were bussed all over the Detroit area to sell raffle tickets for the church’s annual fall festival. The church raffled off cars and cash, and students happily participated in ticket sales because we were let out of school early and we could win cool prizes. We knew that the church needed the funds we raised, and we all loved the three-day event with rides, food, shows and more.
 
As an adult, my first nonprofit volunteer experience was for the Orange Durham Coalition for Battered Women in North Carolina. For this small grass roots nonprofit, city-wide walks and three-day festivals were not an option—we held an annual phone-a-thon. We sent a ‘heads up’ post card to constituents letting them know about the upcoming call. There was no caller id back then, so folks knew when the phone rang, it might be us. On the established call night, volunteers called from phones at a borrowed office space, and we spoke with those who answered telling them about our work and asking for a gift. We offered no incentives, but we shared stories and statistics about the women and children who we served, and the lives we saved.
 
My phone work continued at Northern Arizona University where for many years I worked closely with the NAU call center. You might receive calls from students at your own alma mater. It remains a popular way for universities to reach out to alumni. But according to NAU’s current call center director, answer rates continue to decrease. They still prefer charge card gifts over the phone, but the call center is currently talking to vendors from crowdfunding and online giving day software companies.
 
I’ve also volunteered answering phones at public radio pledge drives, and these, too, have changed in recent years. While radio hosts still ask listeners to make a pledge by calling in, less volunteer operators are recruited, and they answer phones for fewer hours. The majority of on-air requests now direct listeners to ‘give online’ where they can pledge and sign up for the popular premiums that radio stations often provide.
 
Today, I am at Sedona Public Library where we are asking library cardholders and other constituents to honor our 60th anniversary by making a commemorative gift at www.azgives.org/sedonalibrary. We do not offer incentives, but we assure you that your support allows us to offer our broad slate of programs and services, manage our considerable collection, and maintain our partnership in the Yavapai Library Network
 
There is much research on modern fundraising strategies, and we want to know: what is the best way to reach YOU? Are emails the way to connect with you? Is social media? Do you need premiums to give, give more, or give for the first time?  How about columns like this, does this inspire you? Or shall we embark on the good old fashioned annual phone-a-thon?
 
We want to get it right, and we’d love to hear from you. So I’m asking for your support and your input. Please give a commemorative gift by going to azgives.org; and please stop by or call and let me know your preferred way to be contacted. I’d love to visit with you. Anne Marie Mackler, 928-282-7714, x125 or amackler@sedonalibrary.org. Thanks!

Sedona Public Library
Column for March 23, 2018
Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director

Sedona Public Library celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and the Board of Trustees views this occasion as the perfect time to ask big questions, launch big ideas, and bring our 60-year-old library into the future.
 
Nonprofit organizations, unlike humans, have the luxury of defying the effects of age and gravity. In fact, with the right leadership, organizations—and the facilities that house them—can be revitalized and make themselves new again. Our Board is committed to doing just that.
 
What can we do better? How can we meet the evolving needs of library users? Can we make our communication more effective by better using available technology? How can we improve our building, our services, and our programs for the future needs of the community?
 
The Library Board is looking for new leaders who will ask, and answer, these and many more questions. We need a team of assertive and available community members, people who are unafraid of suggesting and implementing change while simultaneously upholding time-honored traditions.
 
Familiarity with the Library, dedication to the larger Sedona community, and an understanding of the challenges and benefits of advocating for a vital nonprofit organization all make for a tremendous candidate.
 
Sedona Public Library is not just any nonprofit 501(c)(3)—we are easily the most impactful nonprofit organization to residents of the City because we reach so broadly across the community to all ages and interests.
 
We do much more than check out books, tell stories to children, file tax returns, or set up chairs for the next program. We meet a variety of needs for, literally, thousands of people who come through our doors. From sharing top-notch employment tools with job seekers, to providing new parents with early literacy resources, to teaching an elderly citizen how to set up email. Our services are as diverse as our collection is deep; our expertise is as reliable as the building trusses are strong.
 
Results of a recent citizen survey conducted by the City of Sedona indicate that library services received one of the highest scores for quality of community service with only fire services and emergency medical services rated higher.
 
In our own study, citizens also highly praised the Library, and they encouraged better communication, upgraded and modernized space, and confident adaption to the new century. We’ve listened, we’ve got our marching orders, and we are moving forward.
 
That’s why we need a diverse board, a team that represents all the different walks of life in the community. If you are someone who personally knows and loves the Library, you are especially encouraged to consider this opportunity.
 
We’d like to see candidates who are familiar with fundraising, financials, budgets, and policy, as well as setting and implementing strategic plans. A trustee’s most important job is as a steward of our assets, reputation, and mission.
 
Beyond that, a candidate must be willing to work hard, listen carefully, and share honestly. Regular attendance at monthly and committee meetings is expected, and with the right team, the work can be a whole lot of fun.
 
If you’d like to apply, please pick up an application packet at the reference desk in our White Bear Road facility or at Sedona Public Library in the Village. If you have questions, or would like to learn more, please send your inquiries directly to joel@detarconstruction.com or call Joel at (928) 282-5379.

Thanks for considering this opportunity.
 
Community support allows us to continue to offer free and innovative services to residents and visitors. Please consider making a donation at www.sedonalibrary.org. We are a standalone nonprofit with financial support from the City of Sedona, Yavapai and Coconino Counties, and most importantly our community!

Sedona Public Library
Column for March 16, 2018
Written by Joel DeTar, Library Board President