​As published in the Red Rock News
 
In just two days, the Human Books will speak at Sedona Public Library. Are you open-minded enough to listen? I know that we often think we are open-minded and judgement free. But are we? Think about those times when we encounter someone that puts us a little “on guard,” makes us just a bit uncomfortable, or disagrees with one of our fundamental beliefs? If this has ever happened to you, I invite you to spend Sunday morning at the Sedona Human Library.
 
We all know stereotypes exist—of course they do! I am often told that I don’t seem like a librarian because, as we all know, librarians are the quiet sort of people, wearing their hair in a tight bun and looking over their bifocals with stern eyes as they put their finger to their lips and say “Shhhhhh!” But are they? Many of the librarians I know are tattooed, have a healthy love of craft brews, do not own bifocals or wear buns, and they are some of the most outgoing, gregarious, and loudest, people I’ve ever met. So how do we change our stereotypical perceptions? How do we shift our thinking?
 
Sunday’s Sedona Human Library is a perfect place to begin. The Human Library is about dissolving the differences that separate people and discovering a connection with, and an understanding of, the people who are different than we are. In its fifth year, I am willing to bet that this local (yet international) event will surprise you. I also believe it will challenge and delight you, and that you will be glad you attended. I hope you’ll join us.  
 
You, the “Reader” (Listener) of the Human Book, will hear the backstory of someone who has been stereotyped—dismissed, diminished, and distanced—because of the pre-judgements or “stuck” perceptions others hold about them. As our Human Books share their stories, we believe you will become more aware of your own judgements that may have been lurking in your background. Simply by listening with an open mind/heart, it’s very possible that a transformation—an ah-ha! moment may occur, and you will see these humans in a new and more understanding way. 
 
Some past Readers have remarked, “When I sat with the Transman Book, I realized it was difficult to believe that he had been a woman, and my mind blew open as he shared his story about losing custody of a child when he was a woman, and then gaining it back as a man.” Another Reader said, “I always thought that someone who was homeless was desolate, hopeless, and irresponsible until I met the Human Book titled ‘Homeless Preferred.’”
 
Regarding political beliefs, a past Reader stated, “I had no idea how much hate I had toward a Democrat turned Republican until I heard the Human Book’s story of what she endured from lifelong friends when they publicly shamed her for her political shift. I now have much greater tolerance for political discussions than before, when I used to just shut down and dismiss those in a political party different than my own.”
 
Interestingly, just as the Readers have grown and changed through their Human Library experiences, the Books often remark that they feel “heard and healed” by these touching events. Many have not yet shared their story publicly and have noted that they truly appreciate the safe environment the Library offered them. 
 
We need this event now like never before. As Readers ask questions to gain understanding of what it was like to live the life the Human Book has lived, the Books discover remarkable things about themselves, and healing happens for both. The conversations are lively and often quite thoughtful. The most common comments we receive on our surveys are along the line of these: “I wish I could have read more Human Books” and “I wish you did this more often!”
 
Please join us for this event at Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sunday, September 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. While preselection of Books has closed, you are still welcome to join the event by coming to the Rush line. You must arrive by 9:45 a.m. when we will match you, based on availability, with a Human Book. You’ll have the chance to read three books at this free event.
 
Please visit sedonahumanlibrary.org for more information about all the Human Books and the event. You can also register for the Rush line at sedonahumanlibrary2021.eventbrite.com.
 
I invite you to change your mind, open your heart, and help transform our community. You’ll be glad you did.
 
The Sedona Human Library is sponsored by Sedona International City of Peace, Rotary Club of Sedona, the City of Sedona, and Sedona Public Library.
 
Sedona Public Library
Column for September 17, 2021
Written by Judy Poe, Library Director, Sedona Public Library

As published in the Red Rock News
 
Most readers have a favorite book. It is the book that you return to over and over through the years. It is the book you always recommend. It has captured your imagination right from the start. Each time you reread it, it offers you both the warm glow of familiarity and something new. The characters and ideas have had a lasting influence on you since the first moment you cracked open the cover. The affection and attachment you have for the book outlasts and outshines all other books.
 
There are actually two books that hold their place as my Favorite Books. One is fiction and the other nonfiction. Each has profoundly influenced me and each time I reread them I return to the wonder of that first time.
 
The first is Frank Herbert’s unparalleled science fiction tale, “Dune.” First published in August of 1965, my Dad read it and conversations offered me the gift of my father’s view of the world and his interest in mine.
 
I was 14 when I first read it and no other book since has captivated me like the story of Paul Atreides who became known as Muad’dib. Truly a lifetime of pleasure from one book! Set in the far distant future where knowledge of ancient Earth is all but lost, it is the story of a space spanning empire that is driven by a mysterious substance known as mélange, commonly called Spice. It is found on only one planet in all the universe, Arrakis, a harsh desert planet also known as Dune.
 
Spice gives the Spacing Guild the ability to bend space, and that allows interstellar travel because it shrinks time. And yet, it also extends years of life to its users. Paul finds himself straddling the politics of the empire and the culture of the native Fremen, the desert dwellers of Dune. His use of the Spice transforms him, and he becomes not only the Fremen messiah, but he unleashes a firestorm upon the empire that changes everything for thousands of years.
 
The characters and complex themes of “Dune” have influenced me since the first time I read it. The rich mix of politics, science and mysticism is unparalleled. I have reread it at least every decade, as well as the sequels Herbert and his son wrote. But none of them have been as thoroughly satisfying and captivating as the original book. Each rereading pulls me back into the place, the culture, and the mystery that is Dune.
 
My nonfiction favorite is an architectural treatise. Written by Christopher Alexander and a cadre of architects, “A Pattern Language” not only influenced how I designed my home 24 years ago, but it also made me look at all spaces from the macro level – city wide – to the micro level –within my own living space – in entirely new ways. It has illuminated for me remarkably humane patterns of living.
 
Reading the book, I was made aware of how much environment influences us in our daily lives, as much as our daily lives influence the environment through patterns of building, behavior, and our interactions with others. Now, moving around a city or town, or within a house has become a very different experience. I look at everything through this new lens.
 
Consider the pattern of “sleeping in public.” Given that we spend a quarter to a third of our lives asleep, often the urge to sleep is not just at home at night. We see those who sleep in public as vagrants and suspicious and in so doing, we create a divide between us all. The authors urge that we create spaces that allow sleeping in public which then establishes a social compact between us. It states that when I sleep, I can expect to be unmolested, and when you do the same, you also can expect to be safe. We are then in deeper relationship with one another. Throughout the hundreds of patterns defined in the book, this sense of deep interrelationship between dwellers in cities, neighborhoods, or homes is clarified, encouraged, and celebrated.
 
Both books, “Dune” and “A Pattern Language,” speak to the depth of interrelationships. Despite being nothing like each other, they have both managed to stimulate this idea within me. They have influenced and colored how I look at the entire world.
 
But Favorite Books are not to be kept to oneself! Whenever I share my Favorite Books, I also ask what that person’s Favorite Books are. I am then exposed to many remarkable new titles, ideas, and characters, and have gained some insight into the mind of the person recommending them. So, tell me, what is your Favorite Book?
 
Sedona Public Library 
Column for Sept. 10, 2021
Written by David Keeber, President, Friends of the Sedona Library

As published in the Red Rock News

I’m Tom Binnings, one of the new members of the Sedona Public Library’s (SPL) Board of Trustees. I was honored to be asked to serve and feel it is a privilege to do so. I am very selective where I serve in my community as it is easy to be overwhelmed, and there are so many capable people who can serve. One of the key questions I always ask myself is, “How much value can I add and what might I learn?”

SPL’s vision captured my attention, and I decided it would be a great place to serve. This non-profit, community-supported organization is moving ambitiously into the future while adhering to the core values of public libraries, as well as its cherished past in Sedona.

I work in the field of applied economics and focus on public-private partnerships at the intersection of commerce and community. I enjoy the work and it allows me to operate from anywhere with good internet and communications. Since my wife has wanted to retire to this area since she was young, we decided to move to the Village of Oak Creek (VOC) three years ago. I began exploring the opportunities in the area a decade ago and traveled here numerous times before making the move. Every time I visited, I did at least two things – hike/bike and check out the library in west Sedona.

I went to the library to research local history, to peruse the bookshelves, and to just find a quiet spot to sit and work while absorbing the library vibe. Since moving here, I have come to rely more on the library, as well as local hotels, to access reliable higher speed internet. This is especially important when I make presentations around the Rocky Mountains and teach classes internationally.

I began my term on the Board early this summer just as SPL finalized a lease with the Sedona Oak Creek Unified School District to move into the Big Park Community School’s library space. As a VOC/Big Park resident, I couldn’t be more excited at the prospect of having a library with a popular collection and access to the full Yavapai Library Network right in my backyard. I’m sure I’ll be hanging out there quite a bit while tending my garden plot at the Rotary’s community garden, also at the school.

The vision of SPL is to create community through the use of its resources—the physical space, programs, loanable collections, technology, and staff. This is very consistent with the rising social tide in which many organizations (public, private, and non-profit) are creating community.  For instance, large retail chains are adding gathering and learning spaces in their stores. Many Starbucks have added workspaces. Many local governments have built pocket parks along sidewalks where locals can gather, and dog parks where dog owners can meet up while their dogs play. Some future-oriented entrepreneurs have gone even further to develop co-housing with shared meals and co-working spaces with social and collaborative sessions.

As a community economist, I am intrigued by this notion and wonder where libraries of the future fit in. I do worry that some of the world’s 350,000 public libraries will not survive unless they adapt to this period of global economic transition substantially driven by social media, faster broadband, big data, and analytics. The emerging world increasingly finds us creating online communities, streaming media to our televisions, and generating individual and group data in many of our daily activities through our smart cars, appliances, phones, etc.  The emerging world can put us together with people of similar interests, suggest books and media we might be interested in, and remind us of events we previously noted of interest.  Clearly the most adept at maneuvering through this techno environment will be our children and grandchildren.

As an economist, I tend to think in terms of value creation. It’s important for all organizations to create value for their constituents and thereby for society as a whole. The more I talk to people from all walks of life, the more I believe value creation is a fundamental human aspiration.  Most people want to give of themselves and in doing so frequently create value. How do we individually create value for our family, close friends, social networks, workplaces, neighborhoods? In other words, what’s our individual contribution to our communities – however we define community?

One thing seems certain—libraries are moving beyond being only transactional loaners of books and movies to becoming relationship-based entities focused on interactive programs and services. In a post-Covid world this merging of transactions with relationships and shared interests is relevant. Denmark libraries serve as a great example of this concept. They incorporate a four-pronged approach into their value creation model: 1) Experience & Inspiration, 2) Discovery & Learning, 3) Creating & Performing, and 4) Engagement & Participation.
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I hope you will join me as we work to create the future of SPL and our community. This requires two things: financial support, especially in the VOC/Big Park area where we have made a three-year commitment; and we need your feedback (anonymously if that makes you feel more comfortable). Please be generous to your library. You can start by sharing some thoughts in a 5–10-minute survey. Find it at sedonalibrary.org.

Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To make a tax-deductible donation to the Sedona Public Library in the Village please visit sedonalibrary.org/donate or send your check 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. Be sure to designate your donation to SPLV!

Sedona Public Library
Column for September 3, 2021
Written by Tom Binnings, Trustee

As published in the Red Rock News

​Sedona Public Library is thrilled to announce that we will soon open a branch library in the Village of Oak Creek. Thanks to a new collaboration with the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District, this fall our current service center at Bell Rock Plaza will move to the Big Park School.

On Tuesday, August 10, the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District Governing Board unanimously voted to lease the school library facility in Big Park Community School to Sedona Public Library to use as our satellite branch.

In the Governing Board’s discussion, it was noted by Barbara Trautwein that this was a “perfect use” for this space. Board President Randy Hawley said they he was “glad to work this out, it’s a great collaboration.” We couldn’t agree more.

In fact, Joanna Horton McPherson, Founder and Board Chair of the Sedona Village Foundation and the Sedona Village Learning Center, also located in the Big Park Community School, sees this move as an opportunity for early childhood literacy. “It is essential to have space for kids to have access to intergenerational learning. Our pre-K students will be able to participate in programs, meet authors, and work on their reading skills in new ways and in this open space that brings people together.”

Library services in the Village had a humble beginning nearly 20 years ago when residents placed a cardboard box to return library books in the lobby at Weber’s IGA (now Clark’s Market). From there, Sedona Public Library in the Village, originally called the Village Service Center, opened on West Cortez Drive in December 2005. Dotte Vande Linde was the first Village Library manager, and she is happy to hear this development.

“I never thought all those years ago when we were picking up the book returns at Weber’s that someday we could establish a branch in the Village of Oak Creek. What wonderful news,” Dotte said.

When Dotte retired in 2010, Cheryl Yeatts took over as manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village, currently at Bell Rock Plaza. “We look forward to moving this fall,” Cheryl said. “We’ve come a long way, and we are excited about moving to the school library and providing services in our new, larger location."

This is one of several new initiatives at Sedona Public Library according to Judy Poe, Library Director, and she is excited for this important expansion. "We talked to the community about their needs, and we know this move is very important for community building in the Village of Oak Creek. One of the most important jobs for a library is to connect community, and this new branch will do exactly that."

School Board member Barbara Trautwein also mentioned at the August 10 meeting that very recently five different families had mentioned the need for a full library in the Village of Oak Creek. Thanks to Sedona Public Library, that need will be met this fall.

The current lease allows for the Library to expand to a 28-hour a week schedule. The Library will open with a small popular collection and ambitious plans to increase services and programs as quickly as possible.

According to Peter Wolf, a trustee on the Library’s Board and a Village resident, “This is win-win for the larger Sedona area.” Peter is a member of the Village Library Committee, and notes that they have worked hard toward this goal for several months. He continued, “This will mean an addition to our current Village Library budget, but we know the community will come through with support as they have always done.”
​
In fact, one Village resident has already made her first annual gift of two thousand dollars and promises the same for two more years in support of this project.

Judy Poe is grateful for the show of support. “This has been a vision for many Big Park residents for more than twenty years, and we're proud to deliver. A library is only as great as its community, so we know we'll be able to create a thriving library for all to enjoy!”

Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization designated in 1964 to operate a public library in Sedona. We are supported by the City of Sedona, both Yavapai and Coconino Counties, the Friends of the Sedona Library, and hundreds of individuals throughout the region. We are excited to launch this expansion, and we look forward to working with the Big Park community to support this important library initiative.

Sedona Public Library
Column for August 20, 2021
Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director

As published in the Red Rock News

​I have been told to never lead with a negative, however I don’t think anyone would argue that the past year and a half has been difficult. So much has been politicized, and so many opinions seem to be black or white. I believe we have lost sight of the gray—the “in-between”—regarding important issues and our fellow humans. It seems we have forgotten the adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” It’s no wonder that I have recently heard more pleas for and seen more memes about kindness than ever before. Well, here is the positive! This September, Sedona International City of Peace, Rotary Club of Sedona, City of Sedona, and Sedona Public Library are working together to offer you a chance turn those negative attitudes around and explore the in-between when you read a Human Book and “Unjudge Someone” during the fifth annual Sedona Human Library.
 
Not familiar with the Sedona Human Library? Margaret Joy Weaver, Board Chair of Sedona International City of Peace says, “The Human Library Project is a global movement for social change. Reading a Human Book has the potential to alter one’s heart and mind regarding those in our community who struggle with all kinds of societal judgements and stigmas.  We are thrilled that Sedona has longest the running Human Library event in America!”
 
The Sedona Human Library takes place on Sunday, September 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free community event promotes connection and understanding and will feature sixteen live Human Books, including Gun Owner/2nd Amendment Advocate, Conservative Christian Mystic, Transgender Mother/CEO Carpenter, Wrongfully Accused White Male, Married Lesbian, Suicide to Healer, and more.
 
The Cambridge English Dictionary defines stereotype as “a set idea that people have about what someone or something is like, especially an idea that is wrong.” Here are descriptions of several of the Human Book stereotypes who will be available:
 
Body Modified Addict—He was considered dumb and lived as a dropout, liar, thief, drug addict, and alcoholic. At 18, he thought his life was over when his house was raided. With a mohawk and tattoos, he receives stare-downs even though at 32 he is a loving father, fulfilled husband, and leader of both a company and a non-profit organization serving our community.
 
Brown Skinned Muslim—After a few months in America at 15, she removed her hijab when fellow high school students got up and moved from the table where she sat down. She was bullied and mocked with Muslim prayer calls by other students. While in Greece, she was called a terrorist by an agitated Muslim refugee. As a film major in a male dominated industry, she is often challenged when expressing her ideas.
 
Conservative Christian Mystic—He has experienced rejections from conservative Christians for his Mystic beliefs, and from New Thought religious communities for his conservative thinking.  In speaking his truth, he has experienced isolation from friends and colleagues. He has even been called a "fascist right-winger.”
 
Gun Owner/2nd Amendment Advocate—A white male, he is often seen as paranoid, a red neck, a racist, white-privileged, and uneducated.  As a gunowner and conservative Libertarian there are assumptions about his lifestyle that are far different from his experience.
 
At this year’s event, participants will attend three 45-minute sessions to “read” and talk with a live Human Book. The Book will share his/her/their story of being marginalized, stereotyped, or stigmatized. Readers will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in dialogue. This is your chance to choose “Books” who represent a negative opinion or prejudice you may hold. I encourage you to attend the Human Library event and see if your understanding and compassion increase. Maybe your opinions may shift. Let’s focus on kindness and understanding, shall we? I look forward to seeing you there!
 
The Sedona Human Library is free and Covid-conscious, so space is limited. Please sign-up early. Visit sedonahumanlibrary.org to register. Early registrants will be the first to select their three Books and will have the opportunity to deepen their experience with a curated list of books and movies relevant to their chosen stereotypes. You can also stop by the library to pick-up copies of the curated lists, and check-out one of the recommendations while you are there.
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, supported by the Friends Of The Sedona Library, the City of Sedona, Yavapai and Coconino Counties, grants, donations, and gifts from people like you. Your tax-deductible donation can be sent to 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336, or better yet, come in and talk to us about opportunities to support the library, including making a planned gift.
 
Sedona Public Library
Column for August 13, 2021
Written by Judy Poe, Library Director

As published in the Red Rock News

​My name is Cheryl Yeatts, and I am the manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village. As part of the Library’s efforts to acquaint you with staff, I am going to share some information about myself.

I grew up and lived most of my life in the Cincinnati area. After enduring many miserable winters, I finally convinced my husband that it was time to move. We relocated to Sedona in 1995 and never looked back.

Sedona Public Library in the Village, originally called the Village Service Center, opened on West Cortez Drive in December 2005 under Library Director David Keeber. Dotte Vande Linde was the new manager and ran the Service Center until her retirement in 2010. (Dotte still participates in our book clubs at Sedona Winds!)

That is when I was hired to oversee Sedona Public Library in the Village. My job entails managing the daily operations of the Village: circulating library materials, placing holds for library patrons, answering all kinds of reference questions, making book recommendations, and assisting people with basic computer needs.

I also write columns for the local newspapers and the library newsletter. I value professional development and am a member of the American Library Association, the Public Library Association, and the Arizona Library Association. I hope to again schedule the popular Arizona Humanities programs and continue community book discussions at Sedona Winds Retirement Community when we resume in-person programming.

Sedona Public Library in the Village is a busy place offering many services to the community, and that’s why I’m so happy to work here. People stop by to pick up items that they ordered through the Yavapai Library Network or to return items from a library in the Network.

Patrons and visitors also come by to use our computers, or they may visit with their own laptops and use our Free WiFi, available during open hours. We also have a charging station so patrons can power devices including phones, tables, laptops, and more. The Village location also offers printing, scanning, and faxing.

For the first time ever, we are in the early stages of developing a collection for Sedona Public in the Village. We are excited about this new development, and we know you will be, too! Watch for items designated with bright green stickers marked “VOC.”

We truly are a “service center”, open 20 hours a week, and always free.

Now that you know something about me and Sedona Public Library in the Village, I will answer the interview questions posed by Teri Ruiz, programs and marketing coordinator at SPL.

What was your first job?  Instead of telling you about my first job, I will share the horrors of my worst job. To help pay for my college tuition, I worked one summer at a local paper company. My job was hand-sorting deluxe paper to look for defects. This job did not have ideal working conditions. I worked third shift from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. I had to wear steel-toed work boots and stand on a platform the entire shift. The factory had no air conditioning; it was hot and humid. All summer I had a multitude of paper cuts that never seemed to heal. Needless to say, I was very happy to return to college in the fall.  

Have you ever seen a ghost or UFO? I have not, but I always had fun playing with the Quija Board when I was in junior high.

Do I prefer dogs or cats?  I am definitely a cat person. My three rescue cats rule the house.  I have to admit that I enjoy seeing Rainier, a service dog who visits the library with his owner Charlotte Selenski.

What book influenced your early life? That’s a difficult question, as I have always been an avid reader. A book that has left a lasting impression is “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. I have always admired Scout’s spunky attitude, respected the wisdom of Atticus Finch, and appreciated the kindness of Boo Radley.

It took me several years, but I finally landed my dream job at Sedona Public Library. I will be celebrating my 11-year anniversary working for the Library on August 30. The next time you are in the Village, please stop by SPLV and say hello. I look forward to your visit and will be happy to assist you with your library needs.

Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  To make a tax-deductible donation to the Sedona Public Library in the Village please visit our website or send to Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, Arizona 86336. Be sure to designate your donation to SPLV!

Sedona Public Library
Column for August 6, 2021
Written by Cheryl L. Yeatts, Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village 

As published in the Red Rock News

These days, books and information come in many forms. There are bound books, audiobooks, eBooks, and even Human Books. There are also movies, television, radio, podcasts, websites, and more. Here are a few thoughts and ideas that have become stuck in my mind about books, and libraries, too. 
 
Books as a Threat: You may recall Ray Bradbury’s dystopian novel “Fahrenheit 451” in which the protagonist, Guy Montag, was a firefighter whose job was to burn books to keep society illiterate rather than to put out fires. As the story progresses, Montag learns of people who replace the books he has burned by memorizing them or “becoming” books themselves.  
The fact that people considered books so important that they became books, at their own peril, speaks to the place books and information can hold for us. (I particularly enjoyed the image of sitting among a circle of friends listening to that person “read” his or her book.) For some of us, books have an almost sacred presence. And even if you don’t go that far, I would be willing to suggest that most of us have a favorite book or books that we return to over and over, that gives us a particular pleasure unequalled by anything else.  
 
Libraries as Sacred, Liminal Spaces: Even the most basic library has its fervent adherents. To simply walk through the doors of a library, whether large or small, well-appointed, or rough, can move some of us into a different state of mind. The whole world is there at our fingertips; all we need to do is look. Running one’s hand down the spines of a shelf of books offers a special moment that few other experiences can match. Taking a book off the shelf and opening it to the fly to dip one’s heart and mind into the knowledge therein can transport one to anywhere in the universe. The word “liminal,” from the Latin root “limen,” means “threshold.” To stand at that threshold and look over the edge into the vastness that unlimited knowledge offers can be, for many of us, a sacred moment. 
 
Humans as Libraries: Whether Bradbury’s “book people”, or even the current day “Human Library” project in which people offer themselves as “books” to recount their life experiences, I believe we are all, in fact, books. Every one of us is a complex and fascinating combination of fiction and nonfiction. Just walk around the places you commonly visit—stores, places of worship, casual gatherings, a simple stroll through your neighborhood – and turn your mind towards seeing everyone as their own unique book—it can change the most casual encounter into something remarkable. It is similar to standing in the rows of shelves in a physical library. When an elder dies in Senegal they say, “A library has burned down.” How would our own lives be enriched if we held that image of everyone we meet as a fascinating book? What does your “novel life” offer others? 
 
Your Library Card: First Lady Laura Bush, a librarian, said, “I have found the most valuable thing in my wallet is my library card.” I would hazard to guess that if you were to open your wallet, the most used piece of plastic stored in the very front slots would be your credit cards—maybe not one, but several them! Sure, they can purchase all manner of things, but what would it say about you if the most readily accessible card therein was your library card? Front and center, quickest to come to hand, the card that offers you the entire world and an immeasurable store of knowledge—and it doesn’t cost a thing! Imagine a culture that places libraries and knowledge at that level of priority. 
 
Funding for Libraries: A few years ago, I heard a conversation on NPR in which the guest said something like, “If libraries didn’t exist, and you suggested creating a place where anyone could get books and access to all the information in the world for free, do you honestly think we would spend the money to create them?” It was a shocking point to make, but sadly I think it may be true. I am grateful for those remarkable visionaries who saw the value of such places and made them a reality. We are all the better for it. I offer a deep bow to each and every one of them. 
 
Let me also offer up some of my favorite quotes about libraries: 
 
"Libraries are full of ideas – perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons." - Sarah J. Maas  
 
"Cutting libraries during a recession is like cutting hospitals during a plague." - Eleanor Crumblehulme   
 
“Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.” - Walter Cronkite  
 
"You want weapons? We’re in a library. Books are the best weapon in the world. This room’s the greatest arsenal we could have. Arm yourself!" - Russell T. Davies  
 
"The only thing you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library." - Albert Einstein 
 
My suggestion to you: Come to Sedona Public Library; stand at the threshold and take a moment to reflect on what lies within. Walk through the doors to find the whole world and access to immeasurable knowledge. And remember, knowledge is power! Know that for as long as we allow it, the library is free to all. How remarkable! 
 
Please support your public library at sedonalibrary.org/donate!
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Sedona Public Library
Column for July 30, 2021
Written by David Keeber, President of The Friends of the Sedona Library

As published in the Red Rock News

​Why just check out a science book from Sedona Public Library when you can check out an entire laboratory, and books, too! Our “Connecting Community with Science” program is a huge success, with twelve interactive STEAM kits available for you to check out, enjoy, and learn. Stop in and explore your options!

What is STEAM? It is an important approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics as focus areas to guide student discovery, discussion, and critical thinking. And, at the Library, it is guaranteed fun! With support from both the Library Services Technology Act* and the Arizona Community Foundation, and in partnership with the Science Vortex of the Verde Valley, we have made STEAM learning interesting, accessible, and available to all.

Each of our robust kits are perfect for any parent, guardian, grandparent, or teacher looking for novel, enjoyable, educational activities for children. They are great for learning pods, classrooms, after-school programs, homeschoolers, or anyone who is interested in learning. In fact, Shara Coughlin, Director of the Sedona Village Learning Center, has checked out some of our kits and loves to use them with her students.

“As an educator, these STEAM kits are an amazing resource. They provided a complete and cohesive way to expand the weekly lesson and integrate science into the theme in a hands-on way. You'll never have bored kids again!” Her class loved the Color & Light kit and had fun learning about light and prism. Shara appreciates the kit’s easy-to-follow structure. “It was a seamless addition to our lesson plan. We can't wait to start the next one!”

What’s in a kit you ask? Great question! All our kits include both non-fiction and fiction books related to the topic, as well as the tools, devices, games, and other materials needed to experiment, play, build, discover, and learn. For instance, The Color & Light Kit includes crystal prisms, an LED UV Flashlight, geometric solids, color paddles, and of course, books.

Another well-loved kit is the Human Body Kit. It includes the game “Operation,” a human skeleton model, an oximeter, and a stethoscope. We used this kit for our monthly “Connecting the Community with Science” program, and we created several learning stations for the kids to visit. The participants had a blast learning about and exploring the human body and some of the human body systems. The Human Body Kit is perfect for stations in classrooms or after-school programs.

Our kits are best suited for elementary school aged children and older, but children of all ages, and even adults, will love them! Other kits include Astronomy, Geology, Bubble Fun, Bird Watching, Physics, Verde River Watershed, Chemistry, and Music. They can all be checked out by an adult for up to three weeks.

A young patron from a local home-school family, Atreo, says the Geology Kit is his favorite because he loves learning about rocks. The Geology Kit includes magnifying glasses, rock collections, and the game “Rock On!” Atreo also checked out the Music Kit and after using the mini keyboard that is included, he decided to purchase his own keyboard. His mother knew it was a wise investment when she saw how much he loved the keyboard from the kit.

What else is popular? The Bubble Fun Kit, which includes everything you need to learn about bubbles, including a bubble machine, bubble wands, glycerin, and the supplies and instructions to make a giant bubble around your child.

Finally, we also have two Chromebook/Hot Spot Kits available for check out; they are so handy when you need to get connected! These are designed for families to use when they don’t have reliable internet and/or an available computer. One family checked out a Chromebook/Hot spot Kit while they were moving and wouldn’t have internet turned on for a while. They were especially grateful for this resource.

“Connecting Community with Science” has been a fun and exciting program for us, and we are proud to have this wonderful resource for local and visiting families. Please stop by and see for yourself, we’d love to share this delightful addition to our collection in Youth Services. To learn more about our kits and other STEAM programming, please visit sedonalibrary.org or call Youth Services at (928) 282-7714 x119.

*Thanks so much to our funders: 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 as well as Arizona Community Foundation.

Sedona Public Library
Column for July 23, 2021
Written by Viviane Kraus, Youth Services Librarian

As published in the Red Rock News

​Are you looking for something fun and interesting to do that won’t bust your budget this year? Why not come by the Library and pick up a Culture Pass for free admission to one of Arizona’s museums or attractions?  To take advantage of our Culture Pass program all you need is a valid library card, which is easy get and free of charge!  

The Culture Pass program provides access to the arts for all, including those who would not otherwise have the financial ability to visit Arizona’s arts and cultural attractions. Sedona Public Library is proud to offer this exciting program to our cardholders.

When you check out a Culture Pass you will receive admission for two people, for one visit, to a participating institution during the following seven days.  Here in Northern Arizona, cardholders can visit Arcosanti, The Museum of Northern Arizona, and the Sedona Heritage Museum.  Culture Passes are available on a first come, first-serve basis, with a limit of one pass per cardholder at a time.

Northern Arizona has so many wonderful places to see and experience. Pick up a Culture Pass and get free access for two to Arcosanti, just 52 miles south of Sedona. Arcosanti is the brainchild of famed architect Paolo Soleri. The town has been under construction since 1970 and incorporates principles of ecological urban design. Or take a drive to Flagstaff and spend the day at The Museum of Northern Arizona—a true gem just “up the switchbacks.”

In addition to the Northern Arizona Culture Passes, Sedona Public Library offers Culture Passes to venues in the Phoenix area as well, including Cave Creek Museum (open October through May), Cosanti, Desert Botanical Garden, The Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum (closed temporarily), and Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (beginning August 2) and University of Arizona Museum of Art (closed until October 26). Yes, it may be even hotter in Phoenix, but the air conditioning is cool in the museums, and the desert landscapes are thriving at the Desert Botanical Garden. Go ahead, make a day of it!

In Tucson, you can easily spend the whole day at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. A combination of experiences, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum includes a zoo, botanical garden, art gallery & classes, natural history museum, and aquarium.

For an enjoyable afternoon right here in Sedona, be sure to pick up a pass to visit the Sedona Heritage Museum. This gem of local history was once a homestead for the Jordan family and is focused on the lifestyles and works of the people who pioneered this community from 1876 to the present, including Sedona Schnebly, the town’s namesake. You’ll also learn about the former orchard industry and movies made in Sedona.

Please visit our Sedona Library website, www.sedonalibrary.org, for complete details and restrictions on the Culture Pass program.  To find out which passes are currently available, call us at 928-282-7714.  
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Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit our website or send to Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, Arizona 86336.

Sedona Public Library
Column for July 16, 2021
​Written by Teri Ruiz, Program and Marketing Coordinator

As published in the Red Rock News

​Summer is upon us, and many of us feel hesitantly hopeful. We are growing more comfortable visiting with family and friends and going to places where we have not been in so many months. It’s great to see smiling faces and to hug our loved ones!

On the other hand, the heat waves, the drought, and the resulting fires are taking their toll. Celebrating the great outdoors is not as simple as it used to be, even in beautiful Sedona. But I’m leaning into the hopeful, and being part of Sedona Public Library makes that an easy thing to do.

It’s a new fiscal year for the Library, so in addition to thinking about what I’ll read this summer, where I’ll hike, and when I can get to my favorite swimming hole, I’m also thinking about philanthropy. As the Library’s development director, it’s what I’m here to do, after all, and I’m particularly pleased to say that the Library had a successful year. We are grateful to all of our supporters—thank you!

When I shared my fundraising plan with the Library’s Board of Trustees at this time last year, it was, well, dismal, as so much was a year ago. The philanthropy periodicals and experts I follow shared little in the way of positive projections, or at least in consistent projections. Things across the globe were changing every day, and philanthropy was no different.

But I am proud to say that Sedonans, and Americans, have again shown themselves to be very generous and conscious about how they support the services provided by the nonprofit organizations they love. As a nation, we simply take care of each other, and our community helps take care of this library. That makes me very hopeful.

When you think of philanthropy, the names MacKenzie Scott, Melinda Gates, and Sheryl Sandberg, or other headline-making personalities and foundations might come to mind. But did you know that, in large part, it is people just like you and me who bolster our national reputation of generosity? According to Giving USA, in its recently published annual report, 69 percent of gifts made across the country in 2020—to the tune of a total of $324 billion—came from individuals.

During a year that we know was extremely economically challenging for so many, to say the least, it is very hopeful to know that many families and individuals undergoing those challenges made up a large portion of the philanthropy our nation experienced. I am feeling more hopeful with every paragraph I write!

We are proud to note that not only is it people like you who make gifts, but it is institutions like libraries where you are highly likely to direct your gifts. In fact, libraries received repeat gifts at a rate higher than any other sector in 2020, and libraries receive gifts of the highest average size, according to Bloomerang, a research group that tracks nonprofits. We’d like to think that when you make a gift to your library, you know it’s a gift that keeps giving!

You told us as much last year, and we appreciated the feedback. You felt safe when you visited the Library to use our services, and if you weren’t ready to visit us, you were grateful that you could receive our services through our website or with our curbside pickup program. Your appreciation is continually motivating.

Giving USA also noted that giving grew 5.1 percent across the nation. Between the stock market turnaround at the end of 2020, and the remarkably generous giving across the nation, “2020 is the highest year of charitable giving on record,” according to the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Everything we do at Sedona Public Library—our services, programs, facilities, collection, etc.—is to help you in some way. We help you research carefully, we help you connect easily, care broadly, understand clearly, speak confidently, relate genuinely, laugh wholeheartedly, and think deeply. Considering all that we have all been through with the pandemic, we think that our work has added a bit to your feeling hopeful.

Thus, "what comes around goes around" seems pretty red rock solid. The Library works to engage and enrich the community, the community is grateful and supports us, which makes patrons feel good, and makes us feel good, which makes us work harder to engage and enrich the community . . . you get the picture. That’s philanthropy. It just keeps telling a hopeful story. Thanks for being part of ours.

Please visit sedonalibrary.org to learn about all that we do to make you feel good, and hopeful, and how you can give online, so you can feel even better. Thanks, and have a great summer!

Sedona Public Library
Column for July 9, 2021
​Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director