 There’s no better time to read than the present. In fact, many people have shared that they have been reading more than ever during the pandemic. When picking up his holds at the Village library, one patron commented, “I have never read so many books in my life!”
If you need a good read, look no further than these recommendations offered by library patrons. Mike: For an informative book about the war on terror, I suggest reading “The Field of Fight” by Lt. General Michael T. Flynn and Michael Leeden. Janice: If you like nonfiction, I highly recommend “On the Clock” by Emily Guendelsberger. This book’s subtitle illuminates the topic: “What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane.” Sara: I decided to revisit the classics: “The Grapes of Wrath” and “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck. Marv: I am hooked on the author Roald Dahl. I recently checked out “James and the Giant Peach” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Kevin: “American Dirt” by Jeanine Cummins will keep you turning pages. The protagonist and her son encounter harrowing experiences as they flee a drug cartel in Mexico. Will they make it to the U.S.? Cheryl: “The Red Lotus” by Chris Bohjalian is a thriller set in present-day Vietnam. I also recommend “The Flight Attendant” and “The Sandcastle Girls” by this author. Tom: My favorite author is James Lee Burke. I am anxiously awaiting the release of his new book “A Private Cathedral,” the latest in the Dave Robicheaux series. Carol: A really fun book that I enjoyed is “Hotel Babylon” by Imogen Edwards-Jones. It’s all about the nitty-gritty of working in a five-star hotel in London. Deb: I have two recommendations: “Still Life” by Louise Penny and “What to Eat” by Marion Nestle. Paul: I am a fan of the Gray Man series written by Mark Greaney. The Gray Man character has a reputation of being the ultimate assassin. The most recent book in this series is “One Minute Out.” Eddie: “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” by Kim Michele Richardson was interesting to me. The novel is inspired by the actual blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s. Diane: I am reading the Kevin Kerney series by Michael McGarrity. In each book, Kerney investigates a mystery set in contemporary New Mexico. Start with “Tularosa,” the first book in the series. Gary: The author James Patterson never disappoints. I am currently reading “Blindside” featuring Detective Michael Bennett. These titles are available in various formats from the Yavapai Library Network. If you need assistance placing a hold, please contact the Library. Sedona Public Library in the Village is at Suite 51 A in Bell Rock Plaza. Thank you for supporting library services in the Village of Oak Creek. For updated information about Sedona Public Library in West Sedona and SPL in the Village, visit the library’s website. Sedona Public Library is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. Please support your library by visiting the Library’s website at sedonalibrary.org/donate to make an online donation or mail to Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona AZ 86336. Sedona Public Library Column for August 31, 2020 Written by: Cheryl L. Yeatts, Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village  It’s been my distinct pleasure to work with Karen Mack for just shy of ten years. When she arrived in Sedona from Flagstaff I knew she landed in the right place. And many others felt the same way.
In fact, Karen was recognized with the 2019 Outstanding Youth Services Librarian Award by the Arizona Library Association. The letters of support for her nomination are heartfelt and heartwarming and I’d like to share some excerpts from the letters. One speaks of Karen’s “unwavering commitment towards improvement and growth, and her high level of compassion and devotion to the community. This is demonstrated with her patient and helpful demeanor, as well as her procurement of a vast array of educational materials including games, science kits, tech toys, play structures, and art supplies through grants. It is also shown in the way she interacts with youth: when she is sitting at a computer to help a struggling teen with homework, guiding a restless child towards a book and listening to them read, or playfully challenging a child to try something new—whether it is a game of chess or a new genre of YA literature.” Another comments that “She has made visits to the local homeless center after work to communicate and develop a better understanding of issues facing our younger patrons. Karen’s sense of caring extends beyond her role as a librarian to one of a citizen who deeply cares about our community.” And finally, “The impact of Karen’s many contributions are reflected in the stream of praise from local families and visitors from afar, in her relationships with coworkers who enjoy her friendship and professional support, and most of all, the number of child patrons who express interest in wanting to be a librarian. I think this is the true testament of how Karen Mack is an exemplary model of her profession.” Before joining the staff at Sedona Public Library, Karen worked for eight years in a rural public library in Ontario, Canada and twelve years at the Flagstaff Public Library. We were most fortunate to have Karen as part of our staff in Sedona. Karen will soon be leaving the area to move closer to her parents, children and grandchildren. She says: “This is truly bittersweet. It makes me very sad to leave such a top notch, energetic, supportive group of professional people here at the library. I will have the absolute best memories of this place and love you all." And we will have the very best memories of Karen doing story hours in the children’s room and will continue to watch her engaging online story time recordings on the Library’s website and Facebook page. Karen, we wish you the very best as you open a new chapter with your move. It’s been great working with you and we will miss your energy and positive spirit. Bon voyage! Sedona Public Library Column for July 24, 2020 Written by Virginia Volkman, Library Director  Certain authors have a predictable publication date for the next book in a series. Paul Doiron usually releases his latest book at the end of June, just in time for a delicious summer read. This year he didn’t disappoint.
Doiron is the best-selling author of the Mike Bowditch series of crime novels set in the Maine woods. His first book, “The Poacher’s Son,” won several prestigious literary awards for crime and mystery writing. His newest book, “One Last Lie,” received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. And Booklist said: “Doiron’s masterful plotting pulls it all together, and the reader gets to meet an odd assortment of extraordinarily well-defined characters—good guys and bad—while learning more about both the natural and the political history of the Pine Tree State.” I was introduced to the Mike Bowditch series by library volunteer Joyce Kelly a few years ago. We’ll have more volunteer recommendations for you throughout the summer. When I finished reading “One Last Lie,” Doiron’s eleventh novel, I was delighted to find an interview he gave on a website that is new to me: Criminal Element (criminalelement.com). Criminal Element is a crime-fiction-community website owned and operated by the publishing company Macmillan, but it is publisher-neutral in its selection of books, authors, and materials for coverage and discussion. It features book reviews, excerpts, original author essays, film and television reviews, conference and awards coverage, podcasts, and more. It covers the coziest mystery to the most hardcore noir and everything in between. Doiron’s interview on Criminal Element is part of a regular column called Book Series Binge. Exploring Book Series Binge is a great way to discover new writers and learn more about your favorite ones. Some of the featured authors are: Allison Brennan (Lucy Kincaid series); Archer Mayor (Joe Gunther series); Kate Mosse (Burning Chambers series); Leonard Goldberg (Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series); Daniel Friedman (Buck Schatz series); and Jane K. Cleland (Josie Prescott Antiques mysteries). If you’re following the Vera television series, you’ll want to look at the posts about author Ann Cleeves and the Vera Stanhope series. Stay cool and enjoy reading books by a new or favorite author this summer! Sedona Public Library is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. Please support your library by visiting the Library’s website at sedonalibrary.org/donate to make an online donation or mail to Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona AZ 86336. Sedona Public Library Column for July 17, 2020 Written by Virginia Volkman, Library Director  Have you checked out Kanopy, the Library’s streaming video service? It’s free for all Sedona Public Library cardholders!
Kanopy showcases more than 30,000 of the world’s best films, including award-winning documentaries, rare and hard-to-find titles, film festival favorites, indie and classic films, and instructional videos. The New York Times calls Kanopy “a garden of cinematic delights,” and, more importantly, our patrons love it! Library cardholders can access Kanopy on their home computers or with the Kanopy app on mobile devices. To get started using Kanopy, visit sedonalibrary.kanopy.com, enter your library card number, and create an account. Kanopy will then send you an email—just open it, click “Verify Email,” and start watching. You can stream up to four movies per month on Kanopy. A counter at the top right of your screen lets you know how many movies remain in the month. (Remember, if you start a movie and then decide not to watch it, it counts towards your four movies for the month.) Kanopy is continually adding new selections, so check back often. Here are some recently added films: The Farewell, The Professor and the Madman, The Lighthouse, Mr. Holmes, and The Bookshop. Kanopy also offers an amazing selection of Great Courses. There are thousands of courses to choose from! Learn a foreign language, discover new cooking techniques, take a tour of Europe’s most beautiful cities, and much more. Watching Great Courses on Kanopy does not count against your four monthly credits—viewing is unlimited! And don’t forget Kanopy Kids, which offers unlimited viewing of kids’ movies, along with parental controls to make sure your child is viewing age-appropriate content. Just click Go to Kanopy Kids on any Kanopy page to get started. You can access our digital collections from your tablet, smartphone, ereader, or computer for free. All you need is your library card and PIN. Don't have a library card? You can apply for an online card that gives you access to all our digital materials. Visit sedonalibrary.org and from the tab at the top of the home page that asks “How Do I…?” choose “Get a Library Card” from the drop-down menu. To explore these other online services, visit sedonalibrary.org/stay-connected:
Sedona Public Library is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. Please support your library by visiting the our website at sedonalibrary.org/donate to make an online donation, or mail your donation to Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona AZ 86336. Sedona Public Library Column for July 10, 2020 Written by Elizabeth Cate, Collection Development Librarian  StoryWalk is ready and waiting for you at Sunset Park. Children and adults will love the new book about a little boy being totally enthralled with the natural world as he watches from his window.
As you read “Little Green” by Keith Baker be sure to have your child look for a tiny caterpillar on every page. Many local families visit StoryWalk often, finding different things to talk about each time. It has become an outdoor habit that is building a fond memory. The trail, which takes you over 2 bridges, loops back to the park and provides about 15 minutes of walking and reading outdoors. It’s hard to believe that a mere two years ago the Library piloted this literacy project at Sunset Park with a shoestring budget and a lot of enthusiasm. That first StoryWalk exhibit, funded by Goldenstein Gallery, consisted of laminated storybook pages hung with O-rings along the chain link fence in the northwest corner of the park. It wasn’t too difficult to convince additional funders that this notion of bringing literature outdoors was a really good one. With the support of the Arizona Community Foundation, the Langston Family Foundation, and the City of Sedona, StoryWalk is now a permanent literacy activity. StoryWalk® is an idea first developed by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, to promote literacy and a healthy lifestyle. StoryWalk basically consists of a deconstructed picture book that is reassembled and laminated, page by page, to be displayed along an outdoor walking path. Walking and reading--favorite Sedona activities--make StoryWalk a perfect match for a Sedona Public Library outreach project. Also, as we strive to enrich lives by fostering lifelong learning, the StoryWalk experience may inspire young parents, letting them know that they are their child’s first and best teacher. StoryWalk programs have inspired children and adults to read together in all 50 states and 11 other countries. Recently a local parent said it was as if his kids were on a treasure hunt. “They couldn’t wait to find the next set of pages.” Overall, he said, “It’s beautiful.” With page one starting at Sunset Park toddler playground, young and old are encouraged to enjoy reading a children’s story book while following a half-mile, paved, accessible path where every thirty feet you will find another framed display showing two more pages of the story. Frames also offer early literacy skill-building activities in English and Spanish, to encourage further engagement with the book. StoryWalk serves as an extension of the Library, and our target audience is in-home child care providers and families with small children. Share your experience directly with the Library or on social media. See you at Sunset Park, located at 655 Sunset Drive in Sedona! Please enjoy the summer and this new storybook. 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 3, 2020 Written by Karen Mack, Youth Services Librarian |
