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As published in the Red Rock News
Good day, Red Rock News readers! Despite the price of gas, many of us will no doubt hit the open road this summer. And whether your adventure takes you to another state or just a few towns over to a farmers’ market, why not take a good book along to listen to while you drive? Obviously, I don’t recommend reading in the car if you’re the one driving-- that’s really not safe. But audiobooks are still all the rage. Listen, I’m old school. I spent my twenties on long road trips from New Jersey to North Carolina to see my brother with nothing but Dan Brown’s “The DaVinci Code” to keep me company as I cruised down I-95. I had it down to a sweet science: keep my eyes on the road and my left hand at 9 o’clock and my right hand masterfully queueing up the next audiobook CD just as the story was getting good and Brown’s hero of the story, Dr. Robert Langdon, was up to his neck in biblical intrigue. I have a rule: an author has three chapters to hook me; a movie has 30 minutes to keep me watching; and a television series has three episodes to keep me wanting to tune in for more. I love audiobooks. A good narrator can help draw in the listener and keep them engaged even when the storyline isn’t quite doing it. That’s right, I’m looking at you, Jimmy Patterson. Listening to an audiobook is, for me, my happy time. In a recent column, I made it quite clear that sometimes technology and I don’t see eye to eye. But we all can adapt to technology and the wonders it can show us! For those patrons who like to try new technology and love to listen to books, we also have free audio books available with the Libby app. Libby is a free app you can download to your Apple or Android device. But don’t take my word for it. Our reference librarian, Andrea, is a firm supporter and fan of Libby, and she is our resident expert on all things audiobook. “Libby is great for reading free downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines,” she explains. “And with Arizona Digital Book Sharing, I can supplement my local library selection with titles from 10 libraries across Arizona! If the Yavapai Network is short on the book I want, I just hunt it down at libraries in Yuma or Flagstaff.” She raves about how this was perfect during times in the pandemic when coming into the Library was not always an option for everyone. “Occasionally,” she says, “We end up waiting our turn, but it's a small price to pay for good free stuff.” Andrea is also the lead behind but another exceptional library book display: “Are We There Yet?” Great summer listens line the shelves in front of our Reference Desk. There you’ll find titles like “Unfinished Business” by J.A. Jance; “The Storied Life of A.J. Filkrey” by Gabrielle Zevin; “The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead, and many more! You’re sure to find a favorite or two for listening while you’re on the road. If you’re on the fence about how, or if, to use the free Libby app, you can always ask Andrea, she’s happy to find time to give you a tour of this wonderful tool. And you’re welcome to set up a tech appointment with Marcy, our Technology Librarian. Or you can attend one of the Library’s Fourth Friday Tech Times that Marcy facilitates. There are plenty of options to help you get to listening while you travel near and far. So, there you have it! Join the thousands of other patrons, including yours truly, who enjoy the free Libby app! It’s a great way to discover new books and authors, and a great way to save money! Happy listening! Sedona Public Library, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is able to offer these free tools and resources because of support from people like you! Please consider making a gift. Visit sedonalibrary.org/donate to learn more. Thanks! Sedona Public Library News Column for May 20, 2022 Written by Jan Marc Quisumbing, Program & Marketing Coordinator As published in the Red Rock News
You made our fourth annual Library Giving Day a success! Thank you for investing in Sedona Public Library during this national campaign celebrating libraries everywhere. We’re so glad you choose to support your hometown library! We believe in the community, and you believe in us. It’s a win-win. We celebrated Library Giving Day with poetry as we have done in the past, but this year it was in person! On April 27 we had a series of poetry readings including local poet Mary Heyborne, local magician and poet Roger Blakiston, Tucson poet Jefferson Carter, and local author Robert DeMayo, as well as a host of other poets and readers. What a great way to celebrate the Library, literacy, and literature! “I’m just beginning to get active in the community again,” Mary Heyborne explained. “And when Anne Marie called, she hadn’t even finished inviting me when I said, ‘Yes!’ I’m so glad to be back in the Library.” Mary read a few poems from each of her books, including her poem “On the Dedication of Sedona Library.” Roger Blakiston’s also read from his collection of five books of poems, and many of the poems he read celebrate Sedona’s beautiful landscape. His magic was also a hit, and you’ll see him back at the Library soon performing for Youth Services. In the meantime, Library staff is still trying to figure out how he turned one red foam ball into a handful of colored foam balls while the participating audience member held out a closed fist. It’s magic! Several children from Sedona Elementary Charter School made poem pockets in our annual April craft, and then they read the poems. The readers took turns reading selections from Shel Silverstein and A.A. Milne. Then, with giggles, whispers, and pride, after their first round of readings, several kids asked if they could read again! (Maybe it was all those cookies they ate! Thank you, Layla’s!) Many patrons tried their hand at writing poems for our Poet-tree, and many contributed haikus. Of course, there were several written about books and reading. Here’s a sample. “Books make me happy/They take me to distant spots/No screens, no passwords” “My body stays home/But my mind travels the world/On wings of a book” And my favorite humorous haiku. “Road kill/Bloating in the sun/Death came quick” My favorite kids’ poem: “I love unicorns/because they are beautiful/I love them so much!” And finally, truest to our library hearts: “Home away from home/A place to study and read/Our Library rocks” The day closed with an author talk by Robert DeMayo, who read from his newest novel, “The King of the Coral Sea.” The group chatted in the corner of our Silent Waterfall garden, with the sun setting and sparkling on the stained glass behind them, making for a perfect ending to a lovely and fun day. Thanks, everyone! Library Giving Day was originally established by the Seattle Public Library Foundation as part of National Library Week, and it continues to be supported by the American Library Association and the Public Library Association. Designed to remind people that libraries are cornerstones of their communities, the notion has caught on. What started as an idea grew into a movement, and this year 440 library systems across the U.S. and Canada participated in April events. Sedona Public Library is thrilled to be a part of a national event to amplify libraries’ profiles in their communities, and we are thrilled with the tremendous turnout of supporters. Thanks to the hundreds of donors who participated in our April campaign by making an online gift, mailing a check to us, dropping cash into one of our gift boxes, or attending our poetry readings! Gifts were matched, dollar for dollar, up to $20,000 until the Library’s Board chipped in and boosted the match to $26,000! We surpassed our goal, and with the matched gifts, we raised $55,650 towards our library programs, services, collections, exhibits, and more. Sedona Public Library has its roots in community generosity, from its founding by a small group of Friends of the Library, to the gift of land by Eugenia Wright and Helen Ecker for the first building on Jordan Road, and to the cash donation by Ethel M. Low to buy land for our current large facility on White Bear Road. And now that we’ve broken ground on our Courtyard, the impact of community philanthropy continues to grow. Thanks, again, Sedona! Your support makes a huge difference to what we can offer to the community. Sedona Public Library is an independently run, 501(c)(3), privately owned, debt-free, nonprofit organization providing public services. We receive support from the City of Sedona, property tax dollars from Yavapai and Coconino Counties, and gifts from businesses, foundations, and individuals like you, as well, of course, from the Friends of the Sedona Library. When you support them, you support us—it’s a win-win. Please visit us at sedonalibrary.org. Sedona Public Library News Column for May 13, 2022 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director  As published in the Red Rock News
Good day, Red Rock News readers! Few of us on the staff at Sedona Public Library could chart the exact path that led us to work at the Library. However, for Pamela Logsdon, the Library’s Administrative Services Manager, it was as simple as writing a fourth-grade essay about her dream of living in Sedona. As a water person, she was destined to leave Phoenix where she grew up, and she made Sedona her primary residence in 2012. She continues to enjoy the cool shade and beauty of Oak Creek and to hike in the nearby forests and canyon. I first met Pamela when she toured the Cottonwood Public Library where I was the Teen Services Library Specialist. Pam remains the welcoming and friendly woman I met that day, not knowing that barely a year later she would be a colleague and a reassuring presence. She is always quick to say, “You’re doing fine, Jan. Keep up the good work.” You won’t normally find Pamela in the stacks or at Circulation or Reference. She’s usually in the Business Office with Anne Marie Mackler, the Library’s Development Director. Pamela stoically sits at her desk, an Oracle-esque expression on her face as she combs though a myriad of accounting and human resources emails and documents, counts donation revenue, sorts bills and invoices, and diligently and quickly finds the answers to the onslaught of questions the Staff and Board pose on an hourly basis. Or she’s laughing about something with Anne Marie. Prior to working at the Library, where she will celebrate her 10-year milestone this November, she worked for two non-profit organizations in Orlando, Florida. She served as Chief Financial Officer for Hope Helps which works to prevent homelessness; and for Florida Literacy Coalition. But Pamela has, as many of us have, worn many career hats. She was the Treasurer and Director of Finance, and co-owned along with her life partner Jack, VBNet, an Internet Service Provider servicing the Orange County Convention Center and supporting student housing across Florida and North Carolina. Pam also managed and co-owned CCN, a provider of information and promotional services at the Convention Center. This background lends to that oracle-esque nature I mentioned. Pam has a memory like an elephant and can out multi-task anyone. By far the career hat that that I find most fascinating is that she also served as VP of Finance and Operations for Barclay Communications, Inc., a full-service ad agency catering to clients in the motion picture and entertainment industry. She had a hand in the glamorous openings of the Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood restaurants that surely I watched on “Entertainment Tonight.” She also met one of my favorite celebrities: chef Wolfgang Puck! But enough of me going on about Pamela. We’ll let her tell you about herself as she answers the questions we ask all of our staff for our introduction columns. Then, you can see for yourself how she came to be the Oracle of the Library. Where were you born? “ I was born in Phoenix, Arizona and attended Arcadia High School with famous alumni like Stephen Spielberg and Wonder Woman herself, Linda Carter. I am inspired by my amazing daughters, who attended that same high school. Jamie, a doctor of physical therapy, is a regional managing partner/owner of Texas Physical Therapy Specialists. Ginger is a Multi-Disciplinary Interactive Experience Designer whose installations have been celebrated from Barcelona to Taiwan, as well as the Artechouse and Orlando Science Center in the U.S.” What was your first job? “The ultimate teenage rite of passage: Jack in the Box! There I made hamburgers, took drive-through orders, and counted out correct change, all at the same time!” What book most influenced you and why? “Hmm…I am so much more a movie girl. Recently, I was fascinated with The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing and the Future of the Human Race. As I am a self-proclaimed ‘DNA freak,’ I believe that the research they present on DNA is something everyone should learn about.” Are you on Team Dog or Team Cat and why? “Team Dog because I am allergic to cats. Our 15-year-old dog, Charlie, a designer breed guaranteed not to shed, but does, is a most wonderful friend and companion. In the 80’s, a wonderful black cat, Star, adopted us and lived with us for many years, but she had to live outside due to my allergies. While living in Florida, she graciously shared the porch with the raccoons who came through the cat door. They were so tidy, they washed their hands in her water bowl.” Have you ever seen a ghost or a UFO? “No, I have had dreams that served as premonitions to events that happened like my grandmother’s passing. But no UFOs landing in my yard. The ghost conversations have to remain private (lol). Pam’s passion and experience for running a tight ship adds to the financially sound reputation the Library has had for many years. And those movies you love to watch at the Library? Pam’s humor, keen eye, and love for the Sedona audience often contribute to which films we show. It all started as far back as grade school and imagining her life here, in high school rubbing elbows with stars, and now, here she is, and we’re grateful! Thank you, Pam! Sedona Public Library Column for May 6, 2022 Written by Jan Marc Quisumbing, Program & Marketing Coordinator As published in the Red Rock News
Good day, Red Rock News readers! There is one part of my job that I truly relish—curating the films we’ll show, especially for Monday Movie Nights and the new Teen/Tween Movie Night. As the youngest self-proclaimed assistant store manager in video rental history, back in Jersey City, I wish my younger self could see me now and all the fun I have choosing films for the Library. Here's a list of what’s coming in May, but first, a weird fact about movie licensing: The Library cannot list the movie titles in publicity like this. So, I'll provide a description, and then the onus is on you to guess the title! You can, of course, visit the events calendar on our website, where we are allowed to list titles. Or just give me a call . . . I love to talk film with our patrons! On first and third Mondays we show first-run films that have played recently at local commercial theaters. We begin promptly at 6 p.m. since these films often run for two and a half hours. On May 5, if you can separate his recent actions from his body of work as an actor, join us for musician-turned-leading-man Will Smith in his Oscar-winning role as the determined father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams. This will make for interesting viewing considering recent events! On second Mondays we show films that I consider “classic.” Whether it’s the 1994 classic crime-drama adaptation of one of Stephen King’s short stories like Shawshank Redemption from the author’s 1982 collection of short stories Different Seasons or the 1988 action classic that launched Bruce Willis to movie stardom, Die Hard, based on the 1979 Roderick Thorp novel, Nothing Lasts Forever, I promise to choose exciting classics. A cinematic fun fact: before Willis took that role, it was offered to old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. As he was in his later years and recently retired, he denied the opportunity. Imagine if he had gone for it! So, since we’re using our imaginations, join us on May 9 for 1985 science fiction comedy classic starring Michael J. Fox that asks the question: “If you met your parents when they were teens, would you befriend them?” On May 16, for our third Monday first-run film, we welcome cinephiles to see actress Jessica Chastain’s Oscar-winning portrayal of television personality and televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker. Look at those eyes! Every fourth Monday, we show a documentary film. Whether an Oscar-nominated film, or a gem that I found while searching our movie license database, the fourth Monday documentary will be interesting. For May 23, our documentary film will look behind the scenes at the making of that memorable 1996 horror flick with a cast of bank robbers and vampires by none other than Robert Rodriguez. Sound captivating? It will be! As you can see, our Monday Movie Nights are packed full of interesting. And thus we ask: Why show movies only on Mondays? We won’t! The month of May might bring flowers after April showers – well in other parts of the country, this is Arizona after all – it also brings extra movies at Sedona Public Library! Read on. Join us on Tuesday, May 3 as we celebrate National Paranormal Day. According to dictionary.com, National Paranormal Day, is an unofficial holiday meant to celebrate and encourage paranormal phenomenon from ghosts, ESP, and UFOs to the Lochness Monster and Big Foot! Fittingly enough, the origins of National Paranormal Day are a mystery. Join us, nonetheless, for a paranormal double-feature. At 3 p.m., view a 2003 feature-length film on UFOs produced by American filmmaker James Fox. At 6 p.m. we’ll show a 1993 movie biopic based on the abduction of local Arizona logger, Travis Walton. May the 4th be with you! Join us Wednesday, May 4 for a film that investigates what happened before the princess from the planet Alderaan stole the plans for, as Obi-Wan Kenobi famously said, “That’s no moon, it’s a space station!” On Saturday, May 14, the Library will feature our first Teen/Tween Movie Night. We’ll host teens from Sedona, Cottonwood, and Camp Verde libraries for an evening of pizza, popcorn, and their favorite multi-versal, friendly neighborhood web-slinger! We’re not talking about the internet! Oh, and sorry, but we won’t have a movie on Monday, May 30 as we’ll be closed for the Memorial Day holiday. So, do you think you know the titles of May movies? Send me your guesses and the first person to get them all right gets a free movie poster! We’ll have complimentary popcorn, and refreshments for purchase at each showing. See you at the movies! More information is available on our Facebook and Instagram pages, on the events calendar at sedonalibrary.org, or give me a call to talk about all the new and upcoming programs and events at the Library, (928) 282-7714, x8122. Monday Movie Nights are free and open to the public, but your donations are always appreciated. Audience contributions help cover the costs of the program, the movie licensing, and will enable us to show a larger selection of films. We’re always looking for movie sponsors, so give me a call if you’re interested. Thank you for your support of this and other programs at Sedona Public Library. Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Sedona Public Library Column for April 29 2022 Written by Jan Marc Quisumbing, Program & Marketing Coordinator As published in the Red Rock News
The Library has done it again! We’ve taken the ‘d’ out of fundraising, and we’re having a ton of fun for Library Giving Day on April 27. It’s easy when it’s National Poetry Month and poets will join us for a full day of philanthropy and poetry. Come by and listen to local poets Roger Blakiston and Mary Heyborne, and Tucson poet Jefferson Carter, as well as an array of authors, poets, students, staff, and volunteers, all participating in our pop-up poetry extravaganza. When you arrive on the 27th, grab a cup of coffee or tea, a donut or cookie, then stop by the poetry book display in our lobby. Pick up a collection by American Poet Laureates Joy Harjo or Billy Collins, a children’s great like Shel Silverstein, or American hero Walt Whitman. Then visit the “Poet-Tree!” A perfect opportunity to take a poem, write a poem, and leave a poem; it’s interactive fun! Next, mosey on over to the gorgeous Silent Waterfall, our stained-glass treasure by Thomas Aderhold. This desert garden corner will serve as our pop-up poetry stage where readers will read their own poems or selections from favorite poets. You can gaze at the ten-foot high Madagascar Palm Tree, two African Milk trees, the ancient Cholla with a hidden owl, and of course, the huge Pencil Cactus! How perfect for a poetry corner! The morning features a reading by local poet and magician Roger Blakiston at 10:30 a.m. Blakiston has published five books, including his recent book of poems, River & Rhyme. He says, “Since moving to Arizona from the U.K. thirty years ago, I have performed my Magic Show at almost every library in the state. It’s great to give something back to libraries, and the perfect opportunity to present my second love: poetry.” This is a reading you don’t want to miss. Special guest Mayor Sandy Moriarty will join us at 11 a.m. to read some of her favorite poems. What a treat to hear our Mayor speaking publicly with rhyme, rhythm, and nary a mention of Robert’s Rules of Order. The fun continues when Tucson poet Jefferson Carter takes the stage at noon, but as we’re expecting a crowd, we’ll move into the Community Room. As you head over, grab another refreshment, and stop by the “Giving Book Display.” You’ll find a curated selection of books about charity, philanthropy, and popular philanthropists like Melinda Gates and George Soros. From The Giving Tree to Charity & Philanthropy for Dummies, there is sure to be a book for the philanthropist in you! Jefferson Carter, a native Arizonan, has published numerous books of poetry including his most recent, Birkenstock Blues. He’s read across the southwest, and when reflecting on his lifetime of work, he says, “I'm an opportunist, not a poet with a plan. Whatever catches my fancy, I write about: an engaging image, a political or environmental issue, a bit of zoology, an overheard conversation, and, of course, love, love, love.” Carter will sell and sign books and donate proceeds for Library Giving Day. What do you get when you cross fun with philanthropy? Fun-anthropy! The fun continues for the afternoon back at the Silent Waterfall for poetry from the little ones! Miss Marcia will guide children in the annual “pocket poetry” activity, and several kids will read the poetry they’ve tucked into their pretty paper crafts. This is a not-to-be missed part of the day, so parents, be sure to bring your kids by at 2 p.m. for the fun! Harta Dunia, a member of our Library Giving Day family, and a regular at the Library, will read at 2:45 p.m. As a drummer and educator, we’re sure to both hear and feel the rhythm, soul, and beat of Harta’s poetry reading. Hang on to your seats for this one! At 3 p.m., Sedona poet Mary Heyborne will read for us. Author of “On the Dedication of Sedona Library,” from her 2001 collection Who’ll Pick the Morning Rose?, we look forward to hearing that poem and other selections from her vast work. Mary is an artist, writer, traveler, and definitely excited to again get active in the community, especially at the Library. Finally, as the day of poetry and philanthropy ends, we’ll hear from local author Robert DeMayo, who reads at 5 p.m. DeMayo will read some favorite poems, and maybe a section or two from his newest novel coming out in June: The King of the Coral Sea. What a way to end this wonderful day! Library Giving Day, which began in 2019, is a celebration of libraries that now includes 438 American and Canadian participants, including your library! Libraries reach out to their communities for support during April, but only a few have matching gifts like we do . . . $20,000! Make a gift and it will be doubled through April 27. Please visit sedonalibrary.org/donate to show your support. Remember, there’s only one library where you’ll get a day of Fun-anthropy! That’s right here at the Main Library in west Sedona . . . see you on the 27th! As published in the Red Rock News
Good day, Red Rock News readers! What is technology? The Oxford Dictionary defines technology as “the application of scientific knowledge to the practical aims of human life or, as it is sometimes phrased, to the change and manipulation of the human environment.” In other words, don’t click links or answer texts from people you don’t know. Starting this month, on Friday, April 22 at 3 p.m. in the Si Birch Community Room, the Library will be offering free technology classes on a wide variety of topics. We hope that these “Fourth Friday Tech Time” classes will be a great benefit to all our patrons. The first class will be on computer safety basics. The computer safety basics class will discuss 1) how to keep your computer and electronic devices safe; 2) create strong passwords and keep them safe (hint: 12345 is not a good password and only works for your luggage lock); 3) how to properly use a flash drive; and 4) most importantly, how to avoid being tricked into downloading or following links to unknown and possibly harmful sites. I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t always been the most tech savvy individual. If you asked me what the “Cloud” was I would have told you it’s a big fluffy white thing I see in the sky and not external data storage that is not on your computer. We should embrace technology in all its forms, however, in this ever-changing, fast-paced world, technology, and for that matter safely using technology, should be of utmost importance. Marcy Young, our Technology Librarian, will be facilitating these classes. Her bona fides in technology speak for themselves. Starting in 1999 as a Media Aide at West Sedona School Library all the way through earning her B.A. in Career and Technology Education from Northern Arizona University, Marcy has dedicated her career to helping others understand technology. At NAU she joined the Education Technology Consortium and focused on software support and training for students. We are so glad that she is now here at Sedona Public Library. Registration is required for all our Fourth Friday Tech Time classes at the Main Library. In May, Marcy’s sessions will focus on Google apps, Google Drive, and managing Google accounts and security. We hope to see you there! Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization grateful for community support. From April 6 through April 27, your gifts will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $20,000 in celebration of Library Giving Day! Visit sedonalibrary.org/donate to make an online gift! Thank you! As published in the Red Rock News
Good day, Red Rock News readers! Our Sedona Public Library is truly the ‘heart of Sedona’ with residents, visitors, and every group in town finding what they need there. From the most current information, meeting spaces, book clubs, tax assistance, and updated collection, to the variety of programs and exhibits we offer, the list goes on and on. We work hard to live up to our reputation as the heart of the community. We are the place where people of different viewpoints and personalities can come and be welcomed as equals. Speaking of lists, Sedona Public Library has recently taken the reigns of the Sedona Wish List. You may be asking yourselves, what is the Sedona Wish List? Appearing every Wednesday in this newspaper, the Sedona Wish List was created to match Sedona community service organizations and their need for goods, services, funding or volunteers with individuals or other organizations who can help fulfill their needs. “We were thrilled to learn that the Wish List has found a new home here,” said Jawn McKinley, SedonaKind Board member and a co-founder. “The Wish List has been a gift to every non-profit in Sedona, pulling together community needs and volunteers. We’re so grateful to our library for adding yet another layer of community connection to the services it offers to us all.” Often we may wonder how can we help or give back to the community. The Sedona Wish List is a perfect place to start. For example, the Verde Valley Caregivers needs clean-burning firewood for one of their clients to help keep their house warm. Also, the Benefactors of Red Rock State Park are looking for volunteers to assist with basic operations at the Park. There is no greater feeling than opening the Wednesday Red Rock News and going to the Sedona Wish List’s section to see all the wishes that were fulfilled. The Sedona Community Food Bank is thankful for the recent outpouring of generous donations that helped them prepare gift bags for homebound and senior clients. And the Sedona Chapter of Dress A Girl Around the World thanks the community for the donated fabrics they can use for dressmaking kits. Let’s all do our part to help our community and give back, whether it’s our time as volunteers or with any other assistance that the many community service organizations in our beautiful Sedona need. Helping to maintain the Sedona Wish List is one of the many duties the Library now proudly offers to the community. It is both a worthwhile and important endeavor. If your community service group is in need, contact us. Librarian Andrea Lhotka is the Sedona Wish List’s liaison. She can be reached at alhotka@sedonalibrary.org or by calling the Library at 928-282-7714. Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization grateful for community support. From April 6 through April 27, your gifts will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $20,000 in celebration of Library Giving Day! Visit sedonalibrary.org/donate to make an online gift! Thank you! Sedona Public Library Column for April 8 2022 Written by Jan Marc Quisumbing, Program & Marketing Coordinator  As published in the Red Rock News
Sedona Public Library is celebrating Library Giving Day on April 27 as we again participate in this national event that highlights the importance of libraries across the U.S. We’re also celebrating Poetry Month, so please join us for festivities including all-day refreshments and pop-up poetry by local greats Mary Heyborn and Harta Dunia, and special guests of all ages including Library staff and Board Members. This day gives us the opportunity to spread the word about how we’re connecting community, and it gives you the opportunity to invest in your Library while doubling your gift. Beginning on April 6, through April 27, gifts will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $20,000! This year, the Polansky family, regulars at Sedona Public Library, shared their library story with us to help celebrate Library Giving Day. They think libraries truly do offer endless possibilities. In fact, for them, libraries are the heartbeat of a community. Zen, Jayson, and Harta Dunia, found a home at Sedona Public Library when they arrived here in 2015. “The Library was a social connection for us, for me as a mom, and for Zen when he was just a toddler,” Harta said. Harta, a certified drumming facilitator and owner of Red Rock Drumming, teaches literacy and numeracy to young children at the Library. She engages readers, from 0 to five years old, to use all five senses via the drums and other instructional tools. “Drumming,” she explained, “reaches all sides of the brain.” She introduces sounds, beats, and the look and feel of felt letters to help children remember the letters, syllables, and ultimately words. Harta and Zen have read for Verde Valley First Readers. Harta explained that when she reads to children, they might grow distracted. “But as soon as Zen begins reading, they listen.“ According to Harta, kids reading to kids is one of the best ways to learn. She calls it a superpower. Both Zen and his dad Jayson seem to have the superpower of reading. Zen told me he loves to read, and he made it sound as if he devours books like some kids devour candy. “I read really fast,” he said confidently as he sat with Pi, his little stuffed sea otter, who is never far away. He explained the miracle of finding Pi, again, after he had disappeared, and he found him on National Pi Day, March 14! Jayson has a very different story. He had trouble reading as a child. The Cleveland school system couldn’t help him with dyslexia, but a librarian introduced him to audio books, and the world of reading opened up for him. “It saved my life,” he said. As Harta explains it, “Audio books jolted Jayson’s reading difficulty.” Now, owner of Sedona UAS, a video and aerial cinematography company, and an Emmy-award winning audio engineer, Jayson knows that listening, and reading, go hand in hand. The Polanskys are one of many families that have truly experienced the endless possibilities available at Sedona Public Library. We’re grateful for their story, and we hope they’ve inspired you to join us on Library Giving Day. We love celebrating your Library at the same time hundreds of families are doing the same across the U.S. We are glad that we can again gather community in our beautiful space to listen to poetry. Please stop by on April 27, and if you’re interested in joining the fun as a reader, reach out to Jan Quisumbing, our Marketing and Program Coordinator. He’ll get you on the schedule for all day poetry fun! Remember, you don’t have to be a poet to read poetry! Call Jan at 928-282-7714, x8122. Beginning April 6, please consider making a gift to Sedona Public Library for Library Giving Day. It’s as easy as visiting sedonalibrary.org/donate. You can drop a check in the mail or better yet, drop by—we’d love for you to visit. We’ll be here celebrating all day on April 27, 2022, Library Giving Day. Sedona Public Library Column for April 1, 2022 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director  As published in the Red Rock News
After nearly 12 years of service as the manager of the Village Library, Cheryl Yeatts is moving on, and we ask you to join us in thanking her for her dedication and hard work and wishing her well in her new endeavors. Cheryl joined the staff at Sedona Public Library in August of 2010 when the Village Library was a mere service center on Cortez Drive in the Village of Oak Creek. She had previously worked as the librarian at West Sedona School. Cheryl said, “After the school librarian position was cut due to budget constraints, a friend contacted me about the position at Sedona Public Library, and I convinced former Library Director Ginny Volkman to hire me!” For Cheryl, working at Sedona Public Library was her “dream job.” She credits this to all the people who support the Library and the many people she has met who love the Library as much as she does. She is very excited about the recent expansion of the Village Library. “Residents in the Village appreciate and deserve a top-notch library.” In fact, one of Cheryl’s all time best memories of her tenure was the Grand Opening of the new expanded branch at Big Park Community School last November. “I was moved by the turnout! The entire community helped make the dream of a branch library in the Village become a reality.” She beams as she says, “The Library now has its perfect home.” Cheryl had been at the helm during four moves for the small service center to different locations in the Village. She laughs remembering when the service center was newly in The Collective (formerly Tequa) and patrons were not yet familiar with the layout. In fact, the newly located book drop suffered a bit and was hit several times. “We had to finally replace it,” Cheryl explained. “Someone tried to repair it with layers of duct tape!” She fondly remembers that it was Friends of the Sedona Library and the Sedona 30 that funded the purchase of a new book drop. Much of Cheryl’s tenure, with all its poignant and funny moments, was with Ginny Volkman, former Library Director. Ginny offers this tribute. “The Village of Oak Creek residents have been truly blessed to have Cheryl as the manager of their Library. During her tenure she has created a warm and friendly atmosphere at each of the Library's locations and brought innovative programs to the community in her own special way. It was a pleasure to observe Cheryl as she went above and beyond to give excellent customer service and as she cultivated her relationships with patrons and volunteers. The Village Library is a dynamic, responsive, and welcoming community hub for all thanks to Cheryl's enthusiastic, farsighted, and graceful leadership. It was my privilege to work closely with Cheryl for ten years and share many exciting, interesting, and enjoyable moments with her!” As career shifts often are, this is a bittersweet move for Cheryl. She is grateful for many wonderful years working at the Village Library and says Sedona Public Library will always hold a special place in her heart. But she is also excited about her next adventure. Cheryl and her husband Gary are moving to Peoria, AZ. “It was a difficult decision to leave Sedona, but we realized we need to be closer to the city,” Chery explained. “I am considering retirement, but I am not sure I am ready to retire. For the time being, I will spend quality time with my husband and cats, unpack a million boxes, and participate in some of the activities our new community offers. Judy Poe, Library Director, says that finding someone to replace Cheryl will be no easy task. “We’ll need someone with lots of enthusiasm and a knack for building resilient community relationships.” Judy, and all the Library staff and board, wish Cheryl all the best. Please stop by the Village Library next week and wish Cheryl well. She’d love to see you. Sedona Public Library Column for March 25, 2022 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director As published in the Red Rock News
Hello to all Red Rock News readers! My name is Jami Rangel, and I am the new Bilingual Outreach Specialist at Sedona Public Library. I am delighted to have made my home in the Verde Valley and thrilled to be working in beautiful Sedona. I am especially excited to share the news that the Library will again offer a weekly Spanish Conversation Group and a Beginner ESL Class. ¡Bienvenidos a todos! But first, a bit more about me. My husband and I moved back to Arizona in January 2019 from Athens, Georgia, where I had worked for two years at the Athens-Clarke County Regional Library as a Bilingual Passport Acceptance Agent. I really loved working there and was pleased to learn that Sedona Public Library was looking for someone for bilingual outreach! I am happy to share my experience in teaching both English and Spanish to the local community. After I had earned my Master of Arts degree in Spanish Language and Culture at ASU, my husband took early retirement, and we decided to move to Granada, Spain. I earned my TEFL Certification (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) in the Albayzin of Granada, and I was hired as a Teacher/Trainer there as well. I mentored people from all over the world who came to learn how to teach English as a foreign language. What an amazing adventure that was! I enjoy learning about cultures and the diversity of populations. At the Centre we had a diverse group of adult students: retired university professors; Japanese students studying abroad; young professionals who wanted to advance their careers; and some students with plans to visit the United States one day. I admired them all. It was during my intense training that I realized just how difficult it is to learn English as an adult, and how much I love teaching! Now, back to our exciting Library news! I am happy to share that the Spanish Conversation Group has started again. We will meet every Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Quiet Study at Sedona Public Library through the end of June. Our first meeting, on March 10, was a fun meet-and-greet for everyone and a good time to practice Spanish language skills. If you’re interested in joining this group, let me know as space is limited. Email me at jrangel@sedonalibrary.org. I am also excited to announce our beginner’s ESL (English as a Second Language) class for adults is now scheduled for Mondays,10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., through the end of May. If you know of anyone interested in learning English, please share this information and my contact at jrangel@sedonalibrary.org. This is for adults only as we do not have childcare available at the Library. También estoy emocionada de compartir nuestros planes para una clase de ESL (inglés como segundo idioma) para principiantes programada para los lunes de 10:30 a.m. a 12:30 p.m. hasta finales de mayo. Esta clase es solo para adultos, ya que no hay guardería disponible en la Biblioteca. Si conoce a alguien interesado en aprender el inglés, por favor comparta esta información y mi correo electrónico de contacto: jrangel@sedonalibrary.org Sedona Public Library is 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 www.sedonalibrary.org/donate to make an online gift. Thank you! Sedona Public Library Column for March 18, 2022 Written by Jami Rangel, Bilingual Outreach Specialist |
