If you need reading recommendations, ask a Sedona Public Library volunteer. Many of our volunteers retired from exciting professions before coming on board with SPL. Careers included architecture, engineering, nursing, education, and libraries to name a few.  

These volunteers bring a plethora of interests and hobbies to their service. From gardening and jewelry making to cooking and motorcycle riding, they have much to offer our patrons, and of course, they are avid readers. Learn more about our volunteers to discover their reading recommendations.

Florence Shreve divides her time between volunteering at the Village Library and a library in Willard, Ohio. She is reading The End Game by Katherine Coulter and plans to read J.D. Robb next. Florence enjoys meeting our patrons and likes seeing the different books that circulate. 

You may recognize Carol Stetser from the Main Library. She has volunteered  for many years and remembers the original library on Jordan Road.  Carol volunteers at the Village Library on Tuesday afternoons and at the Main Library on Wednesday mornings. She recently finished Elena Ferrante’s four Neapolitan novels; she said “They are amazing.”  She volunteers at the Village Library because of its relaxed atmosphere where she sees her neighbors and meets new people. 

Stop by the Village Library on Thursday afternoons to meet Holly Mason who  just finished Me Before You by Jojo Moyes and is reading When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanthi.  This neurosurgeon memoir appealed to Holly, a career nurse.
Holly shared, “I enjoy volunteering at the library because of the very nice people I get to work with and because I feel like I am getting to know this community better.”

Valerie Girard volunteers at the Village Library every Wednesday afternoon. She is reading The Night Manager by John le Carré, and next up is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.

“What I enjoy most about volunteering for the library, besides chatting with people, is the exposure to the materials that come across the desk.  I love the randomness of coming across something unknown or only vaguely recalled,” remarked Valerie.

I appreciate working with the library volunteers who are simply essential to the success of this non-profit organization. Hats off to each of our dedicated volunteers at Sedona Public Library in the Village: Dale Albright, Mary Banvard, Eddie Gibson, Valerie Girard, Janice LaDuke, Ilana Maletz, Holly Mason, Olga Ostrom, Sara Schjeide, Diane Schwilling, Florence Shreve, Aurelia Simon, Carol Stetser, Bruce Vegter, Dotte Vande Linde, Dennis Young, and Lynn Zonakis.

Visit Sedona Public Library in the Village at Suite 51 A in Bell Rock Plaza. Library hours are 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information call the library at 928-284-1603. 

Visit Sedona Public Library at 3250 White Bear Road in West Sedona. Library hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., andFriday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call the library at 928-282-7714.

Visit the Library’s website at www.sedonalibrary.org for 24/7 access to information and downloadable e-books and audio books.

Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, partially supported by the City of Sedona and Yavapai and Coconino Counties. We also require donations and grants to fund our operations. Your tax-deductible donation may be made online through our website or sent to: Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336.

Sedona Public Library
Column for June 24, 2016
Written by Cheryl Yeatts, Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village

As you read your way towards eligibility for the summer reading program grand prize, you’ll need to grab a few books that are in stock at the Library rather than waiting for your copy of the season’s hottest bestseller. Why not check out a series that is usually on the shelf at the Library, such as one of these?:

Mitford series, by Jan Karon. This heartwarming and charming series takes place in the small fictional town of Mitford, North Carolina, and features an Episcopal rector and other endearing local characters. With 13 Mitford books written so far, you won’t run out of reading material once you get started. Many books in the series are available in regular print, large print, and audiobook formats.
 
House of Earth trilogy, by Pearl Buck. Nobel- and Pulitzer-winning author Pearl S. Buck was a prolific writer. The Library offers a large selection of her work, including her “House of Earth” trilogy, which begins with Buck’s classic “The Good Earth.”
 
Philip Marlowe series, by Raymond Chandler. If you are an avid mystery and suspense reader, give hardboiled crime a try. Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe series will transport you to a 1930s and 40s Los Angeles populated by con men, femmes fatales, and one wisecracking, hard-drinking private eye. Chandler was a major influence on Robert B. Parker, who completed Chandler’s unfinished final Marlowe novel.
 
Foundation series, by Isaac Asimov. In 1966, the “Foundation” trilogy won a Hugo Award for the best science fiction series of all time. Then, in the 1980s, Asimov began writing sequels and prequels—the series now has seven installments.
 
Other series I recommend are John Updike’s “Rabbit” novels, Hilary Mantel’s “Wolf Hall” and its sequel, and Patricia Highsmith’s “Ripley” books.    
 
Remember, reading just about anything counts towards your summer reading program totals, so don’t worry if tackling a series sounds like too much work. Take credit for reading the newspaper, a magazine, or the recipes you make for dinner—be creative as you log your minutes!
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, partially supported by the City of Sedona and Yavapai and Coconino Counties. We also require donations and grants to fund our operations. Your tax-deductible donation may be sent to: Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336.

Sedona Public Library
Column for June 17, 2016
Written by Elizabeth Cate, Collection Development Librarian

Sedona Public Library’s annual summer reading program started just over a week ago.  It runs through the end of July, so there is still plenty of time to join in!  Over 150 children have already signed up, and most are reading their way to a 1,000-minute goal before heading back to school in August. And our youngest community members are active participants as well!

Babies and toddlers are a unique and important group served by the youth department of Sedona Public Library. Research shows that a 3-year-old toddler’s brain is twice as active as an adult’s brain and that early experiences and relationships play a critical role in brain development and a child’s readiness to read.

Every Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m., library staff present a story time for infants and toddlers. During story time, the presenter will often embed bite-sized bits of research into the programs and model various early literacy–building activities, such as:  
·         Talking: Talking with children helps them learn oral language, one of the most critical early-literacy skills.
·         Singing: Singing develops language skills. It slows down language so children can hear the different sounds in new words.
·         Reading: Reading together develops vocabulary and comprehension, nurtures a love for reading, and motivates children to want to learn to read.
·         Playing: Kids learn about language through playing, as the activities help them put thoughts into words and talk about what they are doing.  
We realize that most parents or caregivers who attend with their child are not looking for a lecture on brain development or child rearing. Often they need a break and a change of scene or crave an opportunity to socialize with other adults who have young children. That’s why we include not only the serious stuff in our story time programs but also a lot of family fun. 

Parents with babies and toddlers are also invited to register their child to receive a free age-appropriate book in the mail every month until the child turns five, thanks to the Rotary Club of Sedona and Imagination Library!

As informal educators, library staff will always support the important role that parents and caregivers play in a child’s development and are happy to explain the value of the various learning activities that are at hand in the Library. We strive to provide a comfortable and engaging learning environment for community members of all ages, and the children’s room was recently redesigned with that in mind.

As you can see, there are so many reasons to bring your baby or toddler to the kids’ room this summer—see you soon at the Library!
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, partially supported by the City of Sedona and Yavapai and Coconino Counties. We also require donations and grants to fund our operations. Your tax-deductible donation may be sent to: Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336.

Sedona Public Library
Column for June 10, 2016
Written by Karen Mack, Youth Services Librarian

Are you looking for a new series, or a really good book to read this summer?  We can help with that.  Are you feeling a need to sing, drum, or dance around?  We can help with that too. With the summer break from school lasting over two months, Sedona Public Library should be added to your list of happy places for children to spend their time during June and July.

Friends of the Library are once again supporting summer reading and learning by funding many interesting programs that can be appreciated by all ages. Events to enrich your summer experience will feature authors, musicians, scientists, writers, and rangers, as well as Yavapai Search and Rescue team members and their search dog. Movie Mondays, Teen Tuesdays, “Make-it, Take-it” workshops, game days, and opportunities to build with blocks and make friends will also be offered.

The summer reading program officially kicks off in June with resounding harmony and rhythm.   Drumming will be featured at the first event, which will be musical, interactive, and educational.  Three Trees—a local musician, mesmerizing sound maker, and educator—will lead us on an auditory exploration of various soul-touching musical instruments. Young children can enjoy the music and older children will be encouraged to participate in group drumming and chanting designed just for them. This 50-minute to an hour program takes place on Saturday, June 4, at 11 a.m. in the community room.

On Thursday, June 9, at 1 p.m., we will host a “Hug-a-Tree and Survive” program, which teaches children how to survive in the woods should they become lost. The program was developed to educate children in a few of the most vital survival principles.  It was specifically designed for children between the ages of 7 and 11 but can be effective with slightly younger and older children. The Yavapai Search and Rescue team will also talk about the role of their search dog and provide basic survival kits for each child who attends the program. 

A Phoenix Zoo crew will present “Animal Olympics” on Wednesday, June 15, at 1 p.m., and the Arizona Science Center will put on a “Body Works!” program for ages 5 to 12 on Wednesday, June 29, at 1 p.m. 

The delightful local hummingbird lover and author Beth Kingsley Hawkins will read aloud her children’s picture book, “Anna’s in the Snow,” on Saturday, June 18, at 11 a.m. The book is about the only species of Pacific Northwest hummingbird that endures a cold winter. At the end of the presentation, we will bring out the red glitter as part of an art activity for children.  

The place to be this summer is the Library!  Be sure to check our online calendar often for additional programs, and don’t forget to join the summer reading program.  Register and read!

Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, partially supported by the City of Sedona and Yavapai and Coconino Counties. We also require donations and grants to fund our operations. Your tax-deductible donation may be sent to: Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336.

Sedona Public Library
Column for June 3, 2016
Written by Karen Mack, Youth Services Librarian