 As published in the Red Rock News
Everyone is invited to Novel Night on October 1, an innovative event supporting Sedona Public Library in the Village. You can choose from seven amazing book-themed costume dinner parties hosted in the Village of Oak Creek from 5-7 p.m., and then attend the After Party at the Village Library for continued entertainment at 7:30 p.m. Order your tickets soon, they’re going to go fast. Remember, it’s a rank-choice voting system, so first-come first-served! Get the party that’s just right for you! Visit sedonalibrary.org to learn more. From 5 -7 p.m. you’ll enjoy a novel-themed dinner. Each party will be unique and will include refreshments and cocktails, a full meal, entertaining activities, and special treats that are all novel related. You are guaranteed to be greeted by festive décor and costumed hosts and guests. Maybe dressing up in formal wear and dining with Nick Caraway and friends is what you’d like? Then you should attend Meet the Gatsbys. Or maybe you’re nostalgic for long days out on the range, and a chuck wagon dinner with cowboy poetry sounds just right, then make your first choice the party celebrating The Call of the Canyon. Of course, everyone is feeling a little “mad” these days, so A Mad Tea Party with a cigar-smoking Caterpillar and Red Queen might be the party for you. Or perhaps just getting away from it all and traveling Around the World in 80 Days with Phileas Fogg is how you’d like to spend the evening. The choices are many and the hosts can’t wait to meet you on October 1. That’s part of the intrigue of this special event, you won’t know who your host is until you arrive! The dinners serve as a community event that will foster new relationships with neighbors or residents. You may dine with folks you’ve never met, but you’ll definitely have two things in common: you love a great party and you support Sedona Public Library in the Village! We know we have lots of dog lovers--and do we have a party for you! Dress up as a dalmatian, or any dog you choose, eat pork chops (bone-in, of course), and roll over for the 101 Dalmatians party. But if a pretty garden party is more your thing, somewhere beautiful like the Virunga Mountains, then celebrate the Land of a Thousand Hills, with food, flowers, and African Décor designed to soothe. You can dress in your summer best, safari gear, or favorite wildlife. Finally, as it’s election season, maybe you’re in the mood to celebrate the right to vote for women! Then you can attend the party that honors the suffragettes and suffragents of the early 20th Century. Costumes and menu will be themed for 1915, and remember, prohibition will not be enforced! Proceeds from these parties will support programs and services at Sedona Public Library in the Village. In the first eight months since the Village Library opened, the program line-up is full, the services are many, and door counts average 100 visitors every day. Programs include Storytime; English as a Second Language; Notary Public Wednesdays; Tech Tuesdays; and the Library was excited to host the Arizona Science Center’s Camp Innovation this month. The Library also has two small meeting rooms and the Javelina Room (available soon) with seating for up to 80 participants. There are two beautiful outdoor furnished patios, plenty of inside seating, and Wi-Fi. This new library branch can do so much more with the community’s support, and what better way to show how much you care than to attend the most novel fundraiser in town! After a lively and lovely dinner, guests head over to the Village Library for desserts, champagne, cocktails, and a silent auction. (Safe drivers will be available). Guests can show off their costumes, compete for prizes, and take photos in the photo booth. There will be dancing with music provided by Lyra who is planning a set list to reflect the many themes of the evening. The silent auction will include fabulous gift baskets, massages and spas, and specialty items including signed originals by renowned artist Calvin Toddy, and much more. Themed dinners have different capacities, so some may fill more quickly than others. Again, it’s important to order your tickets soon. The cost for one guest is $100 and includes the themed dinner and After Party. Your dinner choices can’t be guaranteed, but there is simply no bad choice in the party options! Learn full details at sedonalibrary.org, click on the Novel Night logo, and order your tickets today! There’s plenty of time to plan your costume and tell your friends. Many thanks to our sponsors including Sedona Village Partnership, Red Rock Café, Arts Academy of Sedona, and Sedona Vista Village. Interested in sponsoring this fun event? For all questions, contact Anne Marie at amackler@sedonalibrary.org. See you on Novel Night! Sedona Public Library Library News Column for July 29, 2022 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director  As published in the Red Rock News
On July 12, Sedona Public Library gratefully received a $20,000 gift from the Friends of The Sedona Library for the new Courtyard. This gift dedicates the seating area around the fireplace in the new Courtyard due to open in August. The Friends’ Fire Circle will warm the hearts and hands of community members on chilly days and will serve as a wonderful location for presentations, gatherings, and meetings. Most importantly, the Friends’ Fire Circle exemplifies the strong relationship between the Library and the Friends. Donna Hawk, Friends of the Sedona Library Treasurer agrees. “Our two organizations have been joined together for more than five decades. Now, we are joining together to create a beautiful new outdoor Courtyard that will extend the reach of Sedona Public Library as a key, citizen-oriented, community hub. The Friends are honored to, as it has so many times in the past, show off this connection by making this donation.” Many thanks also go out to Gordon Reiter and the Carroll Family Foundation who have both shown their enthusiasm for this lovely outdoor space with substantial donations. Libraries are a tremendous way for a community to define itself, and this new Courtyard defines Sedona aptly: a place where residents honor each other and the landscape where they live. Judy Poe, Library Director, couldn’t agree more. “The Library is defined by this community and vice versa. The Friends’ gift demonstrates our symbiotic relationship. The Library simply wouldn’t be the stalwart community center that it is today if it wasn’t for the Friends and other donors who have supported us for many years,” explained Judy. We learned how distinctly Sedona needed a space like this in a Community Needs Assessment we conducted in 2020. In conversations with dozens of residents, we heard again and again that Sedona wanted an outdoor meeting space that they could call their own. What better place than the Library to make this wish come true. Welcome to YOUR Courtyard! Courtyard construction progresses at a rapid pace this summer with crews working long hours and in between monsoon storms. The 18,000-square-foot Courtyard, scheduled to open late in August, includes a huge patio with not only the Friends’ Fire Circle but a stage, a sunken conversation area, plenty of seating, strong Wi-Fi, and thousands of pavers. In fact, you can show your pride in your Courtyard when you purchase pavers to commemorate an anniversary, a birthday, favorite authors, inspiring poets, a pet, or how about your favorite Friend or Librarian? Library Director Judy Poe will remember her beloved dog Taloulah; Jan Quisumbing will honor his New Jersey roots. I will pay tribute to both my daughters who are avid readers, writers, and community activists. What will your paver(s) say? “We’re continually impressed with the number of community members who have purchased one or more pavers,” said Pam Logsdon, Director of Finance and Operations. More than 160 pavers have been ordered, and we hope to etch 500 by our grand opening party this fall. “Many of the pavers simply express a love for Sedona Public Library,” Pam said. “It’s awe-inspiring just how much this community cares.” We have three sizes of pavers for you to choose from. Choices include 12”x12” with four lines of text, 18 characters per line for $400; 6”x12” with three lines and 18 characters per line for $250; and 6”x6” with two lines of text, 9 characters per line for $100. Reserve one or more and show off your love for your library. There are plenty of large areas within the Courtyard where you can claim your fame and make your library love a legacy, just like the Friends have done. If you’re interested in sponsoring a larger section of the Courtyard, contact Anne Marie at amackler@sedonalibrary.org. Or if pavers are the way you’d like to go, please visit Sedonalibrary.org to learn more. Either way, it’s your Courtyard, and we can’t wait to see you there. Order pavers here: Library Courtyard Pavers! PHOTO CAPTION: Sedona Public Library Board of Trustees and staff accept a $20,000 gift from Friends of the Sedona Library. Pictured left to right: Avrum Cohen, Trustee; Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director; Donna Hawk, Friends’ Treasurer; Dan Galagher, President; Joel DeTar, Past President; and Judy Poe, Library Director. Sedona Public Library Library News Column for July, 22, 2022 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director As published in the Red Rock News
Hello Red Rock News Readers! This August will mark my family’s eighth year living in Arizona. Aside from the usual “Where does the time go?” and “Yeah, but it’s a dry heat” musings that I make over dinner, I’ve come to realize that I’ve barely scratched the surface of all the places to go and things to do in this state. We did the obligatory trip to the Grand Canyon and the popular local jeep tour after we pulled up stakes in New Jersey and settled out West, but surely there must be more, right? Right! Did you know that when you visit either Library, not only can you check out the latest books, literary classics, and current Hollywood hits, but you can also check out passes to museums and other interesting Arizona attractions? For free! The Act One Culture Pass is a great way to access some of the greatest cultural and art institutions that Arizona has to offer. What better way to escape the summer heat and do something fun and interesting that won’t bust your budget? You’ve never heard of the Act One Culture Pass? It is a partnership between Act One, the Library, and local and statewide cultural and art institutions. Many libraries participate in the program, and we are proud to offer this exciting program to our cardholders. The next time you visit either Library, look for the Act One Culture Pass display and see the myriad of red passes to Arizona museums and other attractions. Choose the place you’d like to visit, grab the pass, see a librarian to check it out, and receive free admission--one visit for two--at a participating institution. Act One Culture Passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of one pass at a time, and you have one week to use it. What can you do with an Act One Culture Pass? Great question! For starters, let’s stay local where you can enjoy an afternoon right in your own backyard at the Sedona Heritage Museum. This gem of local history was once a homestead for the Jordan family and focuses on the lifestyles and work of those 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 the movies filmed in Sedona including the original Karate Kid with Ralph Macchio. Or, get on down the road with an Act One Culture Pass to Arcosanti, just 52 miles south of Sedona. The brainchild of famed architect Paolo Soleri, Arcosanti has been under construction since 1970 and incorporates principles of ecological urban design. Or you can head north for the cool mountain pines in Flagstaff and spend the day at the Museum of Northern Arizona. There you can view dinosaur bones and other artifacts as well as see the artwork and learn the history of the original people of the Colorado Plateau. Other local passes will get you free admission to the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, The Arboretum at Flagstaff, and the newly opened Verde Valley Archaeological Center in Camp Verde. Andrea Lohtka, Reference Librarian, said, “We receive consistently rave reviews from people who have used these free passes, and the best part is you don’t have to return a thing.” She also reminds users that they should always check the operating hours for locations they want to visit, near or far. There are many options in southern Arizona. For instance, in the Phoenix area, you could visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Cave Creek Museum, Desert Botanical Garden, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, The Heard Museum, Pueblo Grande Museum, and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary. In Tucson, you could visit the Reid Park Zoo and the University of Arizona Museum of Art. We’re happy to announce that Sedona Public Library in the Village has the Act One Culture Passes available, too. Don’t have a library card yet? This is a great reason to get one! All you need is a valid photo identification card and proof of your current address to get a free library card. It’s that simple! There’s still a lot of summer left to enjoy in Arizona, so go ahead, make a day of it with an Act One Culture Pass! Visit sedonalibrary.org, for complete details and restrictions on the Act One Culture Pass program. To find out which passes are currently available, call 928-282-7714. Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit our website or send your check to Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, Arizona 86336. Remember you can direct your gift to the Village Library. Thank you! Library News Column for July 15, 2022 Written by Jan Marc Quisumbing, Program & Marketing Coordinator Calling all campers ages 6-12! It's time to register for CAMP INNOVATION Summer 2022. Let your imagination run wild in this week-long series of all-day sessions that will spark curiosity in science with hands-on, interactive programs. This FREE camp is brought to you through our partnership with the Arizona Science Center. Camp begins on Monday, July 11, so put your thinking caps on and get ready for some fun in the Javelina Room at Sedona Public Library in the Village!
Judy Poe, Library Director, said, “I can’t think of a better way to launch the use of our large meeting space than this kids camp.” The Javelina Room is made possible by the commitments of several donors, and it’s just opened and ready for campers and science exploration. CAMP INNOVATION kicks off this coming Monday, July 11, at 9 a.m. and is recommended for kids in 1st – 5th grades. This STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) enrichment opportunity runs for seven hours each day, until 4 p.m., and includes lunch and snacks. Transportation to the camp can be set up during registration. Registration is ongoing, so sign up right away! It’s easy, just call (602) 716-2028. CAMP INNOVATION Summer 2022 has been made available to kids across the state, including kids in Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek, through the Arizona Science Center. Ashely Brooks, Program Manager, said, "Arizona Science Center is thrilled to bring CAMP INNOVATION to Sedona this summer. Our team looks forward to bringing STEM education to Northern Arizona for many years to come." And we’re thrilled to have them. Each day, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., campers will engage in hands-on activities both individually and in small groups. They’ll enhance their knowledge of STEM and make connections to academic subjects that will serve as stepping stones toward achieving academic excellence in the upcoming school year. Viviane Kraus, Youth Services Manager at Sedona Public Library said, “This is a fabulous addition to our Summer Reading Program and our ongoing STEM efforts. We are grateful to be included in CAMP INNOVATION 2022.” Two counselors will lead the group through lessons created at the Arizona Science Center by certified teachers. These lessons use connected concepts revolving around STEM. Activities support standards taught across grade levels to enrich what students have been learning or will be learning during the school year. Campers can look forward to enriching hands-on experiments that will allow them to create lasting relationships with their peers. They’ll use math skills during experimentation for accurate and data-driven conclusions and develop skills related to real-life scenarios. According to the Arizona Science Center website, this program is possible because of support from the American Rescue Plan Act, and the AZ OnTrack Summer Camp initiative is designed to help Arizona students have fun and stay on track this summer— for FREE. Launched by the Office of Governor Doug Ducey, AZ, in March of this year, the AZ OnTrack Summer Camp initiative will enrich, advance, and connect eligible Arizona students in the ways they need to help them enter the 2022-23 school year with greater excitement and confidence. “Arizona families have had a trying time these last few years. We are thrilled to be able to relieve the financial cost to families and host our CAMP INNOVATION for 1,800 campers at locations around the state for free,” said Guy Labine, The Hazel A. Hare President, and CEO, Arizona Science Center. There’s no time to waste! Register today. Space is limited, so sign up right away! It’s easy, just call (602) 716-2028. And remember, if your child needs transportation to the camp, it will be available. Sedona Public Library in the Village is in the Big Park Community School at 25 W. Saddlehorn Rd. in the Village of Oak Creek. Call 928-282-7714 ext. 8119 for more information or visit our website, on the Events tab, go to SPL in the Village Calendar. Happy Camping! Sedona Public Library Library News Column for July 8, 2022 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director  As published in the Red Rock News
While it is said that “you can’t go home again,” this is definitely not true for the Library’s returning employee Sophia Zarifis-Russell. For her, returning to Sedona Public Library was like riding a bicycle. She never forgot. “I am so excited to be back in this new role,” she said, and we are glad to have her as our new Assistant Director. In Sophia’s first tenure at Sedona Public Library several years ago, she worked as a reference assistant helping at both the reference and circulation desks. In addition to helping patrons, Sophia created a fun atmosphere for our users and staff with several initiatives. She helped develop the Adult Summer Reading program and the now annual Spooktacular. She also implemented basic computer skills classes. Now that she has returned, there is a rumor that the Library may revive the Dewey Decibels, the dance group that once upon a time launched the Summer Reading Program. Stay tuned. In the midst of all that work, Sophia earned her MLIS degree (Masters in Library and Information Science). She was a proud recipient of a Sedona Women’s scholarship for professional women returning to school, and the Library was glad to celebrate this award and her new degree. With her new degree in hand, Sophia took a job as Library Manager for Yavapai College Verde Valley. She loved overseeing that library, especially working in collection development. One of her favorite activities was opening the boxes of new books and other library materials that she had ordered. “It was always Christmas time at the library.” Back at Sedona Public Library as the Assistant Director, she will again develop the collection along with many other tasks. Sophia stays busy with policy development, procedure implementation, and, of course, working with patrons. “Currently I oversee the daily operations,” she explained. “Which includes, staff, reference, circulation, and just managing the ebb and flow of the library.” Sophia abides by the ethics of librarianship and is happy to work with staff and leadership as we move toward being a 21st-century library. “Libraries play an important role as community centers, always maintaining neutrality and being non-partisan,” she said. There is a misconception that librarians read a lot of books, and to this, Sophia says. “I don’t have time to read books!” She adds, laughing, “But I do get to purchase them.” And now onto the somewhat random, but nonetheless interesting, questions we ask of all our library staff that we introduce them to you. Where were you born? I was born in Encino, California, and I lived in Southern California until I was 15 when my family moved to Northern California – to the World’s Egg Basket, Petaluma, where I graduated from high school. Although I loved Sonoma County, I moved to Quebec when I married and lived there for 15 years raising my six children. I came back to the U.S. in 2002 and landed in Cottonwood, Arizona where I’ve been ever since. What was your first job? My first job was for the Fireman’s’ Fund in Petaluma. I worked in the laboratory where I washed the glassware and processed incoming mail. I made $3.25 an hour and really thought that was a lot of money. What book most influenced you and why? There are two things that come to mind: The Bible is a favorite for its life lessons, and on a lighter and secular note, I really enjoy Nelson DeMille. I particularly like his John Corey character because of his snarky NYPD attitude. He makes me laugh out loud, and I wish I could emulate his smart-aleck one-liners, but I’d probably get fired. Are you on Team Dog or Team Cat and why? Neither, but I have “engaged” two cats who are very good at catching mice. I really don’t have the energy to enjoy pets. I have six children and five grandchildren to date, and they keep me busy. Have you ever seen a ghost or a UFO ? No, although I have felt the presence of a dear loved one who passed. What else would you like others to know about you? I am of Greek descent, and I love to learn the language. I can’t wait to go back to Greece with Anne Marie (we traveled to Greece together last summer). My dream job would be one where I only had to work nine months a year, and then I would live on a Greek island for the other three months. Sedona Public Library Library News Column for July 1, 2022 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director |
