This February, Sedona Public Library is celebrating Love Your Library Month. It’s our way of encouraging you to take advantage of the many free services we offer and for you to demonstrate your support for the Library.
 
If you don’t have a library card, now is the perfect time to apply for one.  Get your free card at the main library in West Sedona (3250 White Bear Rd.) or Sedona Public Library in the Village (51A Bell Rock Plaza).  Bring your photo ID and proof of local residency. Your library card will give you access to over one million library materials at 42 libraries in the Yavapai Library Network.
 
Lost your card?  During February we are waiving the $5 replacement card fee.  So stop in and get a new card, completely free of charge.
 
Many programs to meet a variety of interests are planned for Love Your Library Month. These are some of the programs and displays offered at the main library in February:

•  Annual Quilt Show through February 14
• Northern Arizona Watercolor Society display February 1 through 28
• Display of Wooden Miniature Houses created by Mike Medow starting February 1
• AARP tax help will be offered on a first-come first-served basis every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Free movie on Mondays at 6 p.m. in the Si Birch Community Room: February 2, “The Old Man and the Gun”; February 11, “Christopher Robin”; February 25, “The Wife”
• Parents with children from 3 to 5 years old are invited to sign up for a series of six “Fun with Math and Science” classes that start on February 1
• February 5 & 19 at 2 p.m.: French Conversation Class
• February 6 at 6:30 p.m.:  Prehistoric Fire-Making Techniques with Al Cornell
• February 8 at 10 a.m.: Coffee with a Veteran
• February 12 at 2 p.m.: Library Book Club discusses “The Professor and the Madman,” by Simon Winchester
• February 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Northern Arizona Healthcare Free Health Screening  
• February 15 from 1 to 5 p.m.:  SafeTALK – Suicide Prevention Workshop; $25 fee
• February 25 at 10:10 a.m.: Great Decisions Group
• Youth Chess Club on Thursdays at 3:45
• Story times on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings
• English as a Second Language Classes and Conversational Spanish on Wednesday nights

 
Join us for the following programs in the Village of Oak Creek:

• February 16 at 1:30 p.m. at Church of the Nazarene: Arizona Humanities program “How Abraham Lincoln Used Stories to Touch Hearts, Minds, and Funny Bones,” presented by Terry Sprouse
• February 26 at 1:30 p.m. at Sedona Winds: Book discussion of  "Arizona Kicks on Route 66," by Roger Naylor

 
A special program will take place at the Performing Arts Center:

• February 1 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.:  The Library is funding a presentation by accomplished bilingual poet Logan Phillips at the Performing Arts Center at Red Rock High School. Throughout the day, Phillips will share his wordsmith craft and lead Q&A sessions with public, charter and home school students in grades 7 through 12.

 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Your gifts supplement our funding from the City of Sedona, Coconino and Yavapai County property taxes, and Friends of the Sedona Library.  Your donation may be sent to 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336 or you may contribute online at sedonalibrary.org.  Thank you for your support!

Sedona Public Library
Column for February 1, 2019
Written by Virginia Volkman, Director

2018 was another big year for book-to-film adaptations. Popular adaptations included Ready Player One, A Wrinkle in Time, and the blockbuster hit Crazy Rich Asians. Several adaptations were nominated for the recently awarded Golden Globes. In 2019, you can look forward to film versions of the novels “The Goldfinch,” “Where’d You Go Bernadette,” “The Woman in the Window,” and more.
 
Here is a selection of book/film pairings that you can start enjoying now. These books and DVDs can be placed on hold through the Yavapai Library Network catalog.
 

• “First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong,” by former NASA historian James Hansen, is the only authorized biography of the legendary astronaut. As such, the book’s author was given unprecedented access to the very private Armstrong. Ryan Gosling plays the lead role in the movie adaptation.

 

• “The Old Man and the Gun: And Other Tales of True Crime,” is written by David Grann, author of the bestselling “Killers of the Flower Moon.” The book tells the true story of a career bank robber who escaped from prison at age 70 and continued to pull off heists. The film version stars Robert Redford and Sissy Spacek. It will be shown at the Library on Monday, February 4, at 6 p.m. in the community room.  

 

• “Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime” is a memoir by Ron Stallworth, an African-American detective who infiltrated the Klan. The movie adaptation, directed by Spike Lee, was nominated for a Golden Globe in the best picture/drama category. It is available on both DVD and Blu-Ray from the Yavapai Library Network.

 

• “Bel Canto” is a critically acclaimed novel from Ann Patchett that was inspired by a hostage situation in Peru in the 1990s. In Patchett’s fictionalized account, an opera singer performs arias that help the captors and hostages discover their shared humanity. Julianne Moore stars in the film version.

 
Coming soon are these movie adaptations of books available to read now. Look for the DVDs in the library catalog in upcoming weeks:
 

• If Beale Street Could Talk, adapted from the novel by James Baldwin, was nominated for best picture in the drama category at the Golden Globes. It is expected to be released on DVD in March. The book is available in regular and large print.

 

• Boy Erased is another Golden Globe nominee that is based on a book. The DVD release date is set for the end of January. In the meantime, read the bestselling memoir of the same name by Garrard Conley.

 

• In February, be on the lookout for the dark Western The Sisters Brothers, starring Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly. I particularly enjoyed reading the book.

 
I hope you enjoy seeing your favorite stories on screen, as well as learning about books from their film adaptations.
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are grateful for all of our volunteers, and for the support we receive from the City of Sedona, the property tax dollars we receive from Yavapai and Coconino Counties, and the gifts we receive from businesses, foundations, and individuals like you. Please support your library at www.sedonalibrary.org. 

​Sedona Public Library
Column for January 25, 2019
Written by Elizabeth Cate, Collection Development Librarian

You’re sure to find something to your liking with the variety of programs that the Library is offering this month.  We’re listing a sample, most of which are offered in the Si Birch Community Room at the main library on White Bear Road in West Sedona.  The book discussion on January 29 will be at Sedona Winds in the Village of Oak Creek. 
 
Saturday, January 19, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.  T'ai-Chi Ch'uan Introductory Workshop with Blaine Harris. With 40+ years’ experience, instructor Blaine Harris provides an introductory workshop and discussion about the ancient art of T'ai-Chi Ch'uan and its practical applications for health. Question and answer session to follow.  Beginners are welcome.
 
Wednesday, January 23, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Bad Men, Bad Times & Beautiful Dolls: The Pulp Fiction Era. Writing under the nom de plume, Nicolas D. Charles, Dr. Gary Lindner is an active member of the Private Eye Writers of America.  He will discuss the writing styles and authors of the pulp fiction era of American literature (the 1900s through the 1950s) and explain how the genre served as the foundation for nearly all other fiction genres that followed.  He will compare that era and present publishing environments with highlights from his personal experiences.  His mystery series is set during the Great Depression and features Chicago’s Private Investigator Nick Verriet.
 
Saturday, January 26, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Preventative Health through Ayurveda and Meditation.  At this program, Marie-Josephine Royall-Schreck, an RN, certified meditation teacher, and yoga therapist, will introduce the Ayurvedic perspective on maintaining a balanced state of health through daily habits, including meditation.
 
Monday, January 28, 6:00 to 7:45 p.m.  Free movies at the Library on Monday nights start at 6 p.m. in the community room.  “Searching,” about a desperate father attempting to locate his missing daughter through her digital footprints, is featured this week.
 
Tuesday, January 29, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.  Community Book Discussion.  Participate in the book discussion of "Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books," by Azar Nafisi at Sedona Winds.  Pick up your loaner copy at Sedona Public Library in the Village or place a hold in the Yavapai Library Network catalog.
 
Wednesday, January 30, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Sock Monkeys: America's Love Story.  Author Dee Lindner invites you to join in the fun of America’s red-heel sock monkey tradition, which has sparked interest around the world.  Learn about its origin and view vintage and modern red-heel socks and sock monkeys from her collection.  Her creations have been featured on radio and television, and in magazines and newspapers.  Share your own sock monkey and story, time permitting.

Access our online events calendar at www.sedonalibrary.org to view the monthly schedule of programs at the Library.  In addition to special one-time programs we offer regular monthly programs such as the Book Club, Coffee with a Veteran, Conversational French, Conversational Spanish, English as a Second Language Class, Great Decisions Discussion Group, Investment Club, Sedona Writers Salon, and Sit and Stitch. 
 
Additional adult programs are offered by nonprofit organizations that hold their meetings at the Library and by private individuals and groups that rent the Library’s meeting spaces.
 
Be sure to also look for our regular and special programs that are offered for youth of all ages, from babies to teens.
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Your gifts supplement our funding from the City of Sedona, Coconino and Yavapai County property taxes, and Friends of the Sedona Library.  Your donation may be sent to 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336 or you may contribute online at sedonalibrary.org.  Thank you for your support!

​Sedona Public Library
Column for January 18, 2019
Written by Virginia Volkman, Library Director

​Just in time to ward off the post-holiday blues and to brighten up some otherwise dreary and wet days, the quilts are up and visitors and residents are flocking in to see them.
 
This year, Sedona Public Library’s Annual Quilt Show once again showcases the creativity of our local quilters against the architectural beauty of the Library.  The show runs through Thursday, February 14. 

We’re grateful to store-owner Cynthia Cunningham for continuing this tradition.  As always, the diverse display of traditional and contemporary quilts is stunning.  This year’s show features more animal-inspired quilts than usual, so be sure to look for the quilts mentioned below.
 
"Fiona - An Irish Flamingo" (#7) is by Sheryl Bertelson, a long-time flamingo fanatic.  When she saw the Laura Heine pattern, Pinkerton, it was love at first sight.  Sheryl signed up for a class offered by Lynda Shepherd at the local quilt store, and Fiona was born.
 
"In the Savanna" (#8) was created by Magdalena Castillo-Cockrum.  She used Laura Heine's Giraffe pattern.  Maggie was inspired to think outside the box and play with various fabrics to allow her giraffe to come alive.  Dottie Hamm did the long arm quilting.
 
"Cabin Window" (#12) was made by Carolyn Witcher, as a tribute to her orange Hawaiian cats: Radar, Sonar, Rambo and Kapono.  She based it on a pattern by Stephen Seifert and Elizabeth Schwartz.
 
"Cardinals" (#23) is by Joanne Brosz.  She was enchanted by the book "Blended Quilts" by Marsha McCloskey & Sharon Evans Yenter, which she found at a quilt store in Center Harbor, NH, on Lake Winnipesaukee.  The pattern is Victoria's Garden. 
 
"Hummingbirds" (#24) is also by Joanne Brosz, and incorporates a hummingbird panel and vibrant colors.
 
We hope that you enjoy another delightful show of quilts.  We are fortunate to have a talented community of quilters in our area, who generously share their treasures with us.
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Your gifts supplement our funding from the City of Sedona, Coconino and Yavapai County property taxes, and Friends of the Sedona Library.  Your donation may be sent to 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336 or you may contribute online at sedonalibrary.org.  We appreciate your support!

At Sedona Public Library we greet the new year with the Annual Quilt Show, which features the colorful work of talented local quilters.  This year’s show kicked off on December 21 and continues through February 14.  Please join us as we share the creations of Verde Valley quilters in a show coordinated and arranged by Quilter’s Store Sedona.

A total of 59 quilts are included in this year’s show at the Library. The key to the quilts describes all of them, so be sure to pick up a guide and enjoy yourself as you wander through the aisles and the community room.
You’ll find many different patterns represented and some original art. Two of the quilts tell personal stories that honor the past.

“Nostalgic Truck” by Wendy Lopez pays homage to the orange 1966 Chevy truck that her husband once owned.  She made the quilt for him using one of Laura Heine’s patterns. Laura’s patterns use individually cut flowers and other pieces in a collage to create a design.  In Wendy’s truck there are hidden items: giraffe, hippo, #42 (years married), #6 (grandchildren), butterflies, and the Cat in the Hat.  What a fun quilt!

​“Nostalgia” is by Meghna Connell, a beginner quilter from India.  Growing up, her favorite festival was Diwali, the festival of lights.  The women in her household wore vibrant sarees, they exchanged tie-dye colored boxes of sweets with their neighbors, and the evening sky was lit up with fireworks.  Meghna has used her mother’s old sarees in this quilt to give a glimpse of her nostalgia for those brilliant times.  The pattern “Rectangle Wrangle” from Bonnie Hunter’s book “Scraps and Shirttails II: Continuing the Art of Quilting Green” inspired the design.  It was quilted by Penny Boese.

Two of the quilts on display are being raffled off.  The Red Rock Quilters opportunity quilt is at the Library’s front entrance. It captures the colors of Sedona sunsets and features the iconic Cathedral Rock.  Proceeds will be used towards the group’s community service projects. Visit their website for more information: redrockquilters.org 

The other raffle quilt is “First Responder Fire” by Cynthia Cunningham. Quilter’s Store Sedona had a challenge which was answered by 133 people who returned fire or police blocks to the shop.  Three quilts were put together with the blocks and this is one of them.  Raffle tickets for both of the quilts on display are available at Quilter’s Store Sedona. 

Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Whether you borrow a book, movie, audio book, or magazine; depend on our computers; come to our programs; look to us to translate a document—we are here for you.  We’re at your service in facilities created by you, and for you.  And we’re there for you 24/7 at sedonalibrary.org.

While we do it for you, we couldn’t do it without you. Your gifts supplement our funding from the City of Sedona, Coconino and Yavapai County property taxes, and Friends of the Sedona Library.  Come by or give online. We appreciate your support.

May your home be filled with warmth and good cheer in 2019.  Best wishes from the volunteers, staff, and members of the Library Board!

Sedona Public Library
Column for January 4, 2019
Written by Virginia Volkman, Library Director