My dream of visiting Africa became a reality when my husband and I recently traveled to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana.  Since coming home, I cannot stop thinking about our adventure. I keep the memories alive by reading books about these special places. In this article, I’ll share some of my current favorites.
 
I discovered an author named Tony Park at a bookstore in Johannesburg. Even though he is Australian, Park researches and writes his novels while on location in Africa.  Most of his books are mysteries/thrillers that deal with the serious problem of poaching, especially of rhinos and elephants.  I think you will enjoy reading the following titles by this author:  “Ivory,” “Red Earth,” and “The Delta.”
 
After touring Robben Island and seeing the tiny cell where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for eighteen years, I decided to read “Long Walk to Freedom.” Written in Mandela’s own words, he tells how he came from humble beginnings to change a nation and the world.
 
Our next stop was Zimbabwe. I learned more about the rich and colorful history of this country, formerly Southern Rhodesia and Rhodesia, after reading two books:  “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight,” by Alexandra Fuller, and “When the African Bus Came Down,” a memoir by Elaine Bosman. You may recognize Elaine Bosman’s name because she used to live in the Village. Elaine is a wonderful storyteller who offers insights about living in Rhodesia. Delightful illustrations by Paul Bosman, Elaine’s husband, add a special touch to her memoir.
 
Spending time in Botswana brought Alexander McCall Smith’s series about Mma Precious Ramotswe, owner of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, to life. I like listening to the audiobooks because of the melodic voices of the characters. There are twenty books in the series, with the latest title—“To the Land of Long Lost Friends”—scheduled for release in October. If you are interested in reading this series, start with the first book, “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.”
 
You may be familiar with Delia Owens as the author of the number one best-selling novel “Where the Crawdads Sing.” However, you may not know that she has a degree in zoology and spent several decades studying elephants, lions, and brown hyenas in remote areas of Botswana and Zambia. She earned her Ph.D. in animal behavior from the University of California in Davis and co-authored three nonfiction books with Mark Owens, her husband. I highly recommend “Cry of the Kalahari” and “Secrets of the Savanna.”  These books contain wonderful photographs that capture their time in Africa.
 
All titles mentioned in this article are available from the Yavapai Library Network. If you need assistance placing a hold, please contact the Library. 
 
Like Kuki Gallmann (author of “I Dreamed of Africa”), I still dream of Africa.  If you enjoy traveling as much as I do, please share your adventures the next time you visit the Library.  Safe journeys…
 
For some outdoor reading, explore “Some Smug Slug,” the Library’s newest StoryWalk exhibit at Sunset Park. To learn more about all that we offer at Sedona Public Library, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, or to make an online gift, please visit us at www.sedonalibrary.org.

​Sedona Public Library
Column for July 26, 2019
Written by:  Cheryl L. Yeatts, Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village

Visit Sedona Public Library the last week in July to get out of the heat and into some exciting programs! The Si Birch Community Room is ready to welcome you with cool air and sizzling activities.
 
For adults:
The Monday Night Movie on July 22, at 6 p.m. will feature Fighting with My Family, a comedy based on the true story of a tight-knit wrestling family.
 
Watch a free screening of the documentary One Big Home at the Reel Life Movie Night film series on Tuesday, July 23, at 6:30 p.m. Director Thomas Bena will join us via Skype to introduce the film, which follows his campaign to limit house size in the wealthy community of Martha's Vineyard. 
 
The Nonfiction Book Club will meet on Tuesday, July 23, at 4 p.m. in the Quiet Study. This is an opportunity to read a book before its release date! Pick up an advanced reader copy of "The Dog Went Over the Mountain," by Peter Zheutlin, at the reference desk and join our lively discussion. The author and his dog will join us via Skype. Everyone is invited to attend this free program, facilitated by library staff.
 
Don't miss the final Poetry and Prose Project event of the 2019 season on Friday, July 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. This month's program is an all-poetry show, featuring award-winning poet Christopher Fox Graham.
 
Join in the fun for the Summer Reading Ice Cream Social, Friday, July 26, 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the community room. Attend the final event of the adult summer reading program, where we'll enjoy ice cream and music and award prizes.

For kids:
On Monday through Wednesday, July 22-24, from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m., creative kids can explore and create other worlds with hands-on art activities at this three-day, all-ages program.
 
The grand finale event for the summer reading program happens at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, featuring Wildman Phil, an animal educator, and his wild animals! Prize drawing winners will also be announced at the finale. 
 
Regularly scheduled events include story time, chess club, and Music Morning with Annette. Please check the library events calendar or call 928-282-7714, ext. 119, for more information.
 
For all ages:
The annual model railroad exhibit, presented by the Sedona Railroaders, will be on display in the community room from July 29 through August 3. Popular with railroading enthusiasts of all ages, the display features several layouts running different scale trains. The railroad exhibit is free and open to the public.
 
Check us out and join the approximately 500 other people who visit the Library every day to attend programs; to borrow a book, DVD, music CD, audiobook, or magazine; to use a computer; to use our Wi-Fi service; or to sit in the air conditioning and read the latest issue of their favorite magazine or newspaper.
 
Please enjoy the rest of the summer and for some outdoor reading, explore “Some Smug Slug,” the Library’s newest StoryWalk exhibit at Sunset Park. To learn more about all that we offer at Sedona Public Library, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, or to make an online gift, please visit us at www.sedonalibrary.org.

Sedona Public Library
Column for July 19, 2019
Written by Virginia Volkman, Library Director

Sedona Public Library is pleased to partner with the Sedona International City of Peace and Rotary Club of Sedona for the third Sedona Human Library™ event, on Sunday, September 22, with sessions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Library on White Bear Road.
 
The event is part of the Human Library project (www.humanlibrary.org), an international effort that is now local. This global movement for social change has the potential to alter our hearts and minds as to how we regard those in our community who struggle with all kinds of societal judgments and stigmas.
 
It’s easy to judge a book by its cover. But what if you could “borrow” it and sit down and talk with the subject? During the FREE Human Library Event you’ll have the opportunity to do that!  You can select human books, listen to their short presentations, and engage in dialogue with them to gain understanding. The live human books will courageously share their stories of being marginalized, categorized, or stigmatized for their differences.  
 
The Human Library project is designed to “build a positive framework for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue.” The biases we hold just under the surface of our personal and collective awareness can often be a source of social and community tension or unrest. As a community, we can illuminate and perhaps dissolve these prejudices, gain new understanding, and even come to new ways of relating to people we may avoid, dismiss, resent, or generally judge unfairly.
 
If you would like to volunteer to be a Human Book it’s not too late.  Apply online at https://forms.gle/X9rVE8nWHpZTMbrM8 or pick up an application at the Library. The completed form may be dropped off at the library reference desk or submitted online. For more information go to the Sedona International City of Peace Facebook page or the Library’s Facebook page. The application deadline is July 15.
 
The Sedona International City of Peace was recognized and established as the 35th city of now over 245 International Cities of Peace. Rotary International is an organization of community leaders who meet regularly to exchange ideas and take action to make their community and the world a better place. The Library’s partnership with these community organizations aligns us all in our commitment in expanding our reach and impact in creating a culture of peace in Sedona.
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The land on which our beautiful library sits was donated, and the library building was constructed with private funds and is entirely debt-free. Donations and grants allow us to continue to offer free and innovative services to residents and visitors. Your tax-deductible donation may be made online or sent to: Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336.

Sedona Public Library
Column for July 12, 2019
Written by Virginia Volkman, Library Director

Sedona Public Library’s fiscal year ended on May 31, and we’re happy to report that we have experienced another year of growth and transition.  We are proud to serve the residents of Sedona.  Thank you for your support and patronage, and if you haven’t been by for a while, stop in and see what’s new.
 
This Year’s Highlights and Accomplishments:
 

• Sedona Public Library was nationally recognized by Library Journal as a Star-Rated Library for the fifth year in a row, based on statistical measures that were higher than those of other libraries.

 

• Through funding from an Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona grant and the Langston Family Foundation, the Library launched a StoryWalk exhibit at Sunset Park.  We worked with the City of Sedona Parks and Recreation Department to plan the project and the Public Works Department installed the permanent frames for the picture books, which will be changed every three months.    

 

• The Library received an Arizona State Library grant last year, to implement a six-session Fun with Math and Science program for 3- to 5-year-olds and their parents.  The grant continued this year with another opportunity to offer an additional series of programs. 

 

• Filmmaker Katrina Parks selected the Library to host Route 66 Women: An Untold Story of the Mother Road, with funding from an Arizona Humanities grant.  She showed segments from her documentary film series “Route 66 Women,” and was joined by Cline Library's archivist Sean Evans and official Arizona State Historian Marshall Trimble.

 

• The Library received a grant from the American Library Association and PBS to host programs around “The Great American Read,” an eight-part television series celebrating the joy of reading and the books we love.  The first and final programs were held at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre in collaboration with Sedona International Film Festival.  We used some funding from the grant to partially pay for new chairs in the community room.

 

• We were chosen as a site by Yavapai Food Council for the Summer Food Service Program that provided healthy lunches to children during the months of June and July.  A total of 286 children and accompanying adults attended the lunch program at the Library.

 

• We partnered with the local High Desert Designers Garden Club to promote the annual National Garden Club Poetry Contest for students.  A poem submitted by thirteen-year-old Felicia Foldes was awarded first place in the Arizona State competition in her age group, first place in the Pacific Region, and third place in the National competition.

 

• The Library continued to work with the Rotary Club of Sedona to promote Imagination Library.  We registered children for the program at the Library and at offsite events. Verde Valley children under age five are receiving a free book in the mail every month through this program.

 

• Youth Services staff took the library to the community by visiting Head Start classes and preschools and the Sedona Charter School and West Sedona School.  We also had an exhibit table at the City’s Celebration of Spring event. We coordinated and funded a visit by Jerry Pallotta, a well-known children’s author, for two performances for students at West Sedona Elementary School, and a presentation at the Library for homeschoolers and Sedona Charter School students, for a total audience of 246.

 

• Youth Services Librarian Karen Mack visited Sedona Red Rock Junior-Senior High School and introduced 7th to 10th graders to a new fall reading challenge. Advance reader books, Friends of the Library book store coupons and Famous Pizza coupons were incentives.  Approximately 250 students participated and earned extra credit toward their English Language Arts grade.  We also participated in the annual Career Day at the school. 

 

• We coordinated and funded an outreach poetry event at the Sedona Performing Arts Center.  Logan Phillips, a University of Arizona professor, bilingual poet, performance artist and DJ spent a full day doing presentations and workshops for 300 public, charter and home school students in grades 7 through 12.

 

• We initiated a number of new adult programs, including a series of basic computer skill classes, a nonfiction book club, a documentary film series (Reel Life Movie Night), and Socrates Café.  We also started a puzzle exchange. 

 

• The Library collaborated with Sedona International City of Peace and Rotary Club of Sedona to host the second Human Library Project, an innovative international project designed to promote dialogue. 

 

• We presented our third community reads program, Read Around Sedona.  Our selected book was “Arizona Kicks on Route 66,” by local author Roger Naylor.  The standing-room-only kickoff event with the author featured classic cars courtesy of Sedona Car Club, and pie donated by local businesses.  Other events held in conjunction with the program included book discussions, three speaker programs, and a tour of La Posada Hotel.  Artist Wendy Jack’s Route 66 diorama and map were also featured.

 

• We continued our 60th Anniversary celebration with a time capsule project and a writing contest. 

 

• During the busy election year, the Library was the venue for a variety of candidate forums and discussions, and we presented our first informal meet and greet for City Council candidates.

 

• The Library introduced Kanopy, a streaming video service, available to all Sedona Library cardholders. With a selection of over 30,000 on-demand videos, the Kanopy collection includes new releases, independent and international cinema, classic movies, documentaries, and educational films.

 

• Our first Library Giving Day on April 10 was a huge success.  Thanks to 115 of you who made donations that were matched dollar for dollar —up to a total of $20,000.  With the match, given by two generous donors, we raised $40,000 on Library Giving Day towards our Library programs, services, collections, exhibits, and more.

 
The Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are supported by the City of Sedona, Yavapai and Coconino Counties property taxes, businesses and foundations, and individuals like you.

We could not succeed as your public library without the involvement and commitment of this community, the passion and dedication of our staff and board, Friends of the Sedona Library and the 17,000 hours of volunteer time we received last year.

Sedona Public Library
Column for July 5, 2019
Written by Virginia Volkman, Library Director