In late 2016, President Barack Obama designated 1.35 million acres of undeveloped public lands in southeastern Utah as Bears Ears National Monument.  On December 4, 2017, President Donald Trump shrank the monument by 85 percent, an action that was immediately challenged in lawsuits that could take years to resolve.
 
To learn more about this national debate over the future of public lands, join Rebecca  Robinson and Stephen Strom as they share stories and photographs from their book “Voices from Bears Ears:  Seeking Common Ground on Sacred Land.” The program will take place in the community room at Sedona Public Library on Friday, October 4, at 3:30 p.m. The program is free and open to the public. 
 
Bears Ears is a land rich in human history and unsurpassed in natural beauty. In “Voices from Bears Ears:  Seeking Common Ground on Sacred Land,” Robinson and Strom feature stories of 20 individuals and interviews with more than 70 people, capturing the passions of those who fought to protect Bears Ears and those who opposed the monument as a federal "land grab" that threatened to rob them of their future.
 
The book shares stories of those who celebrate a growing movement by Indigenous peoples to protect ancestral lands and culture, and those who speak devotedly about their Mormon heritage. What unites these individuals is a reverence for a homeland that defines their cultural and spiritual identity.  
 
Journalist Rebecca Robinson lives in Portland, Oregon. Her work has been widely published and she has received numerous awards for her work in print, radio, and online media.  “Voices from Bears Ears” is her first book.
 
Photographer Stephen E. Strom received his PhD in astronomy from Harvard University in 1964.  Strom’s photographic work is held in several permanent collections, including the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson.  His photography has been featured in numerous books, including his recent work “Bears Ears:  Views from a Sacred Land.”
 
The Library is partnering with The Literate Lizard bookstore to provide books for sale in the community room immediately following the program. Ms. Robinson and Mr. Strom will be available to answer questions and sign books.
 
This program is part of Sedona Public Library’s environmental stewardship series grant, a project supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
 
For more information about this program or other programs that we offer at Sedona Public Library, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, please stop by or call the Library at 928-282-7714. You may also access the Library’s website at www.sedonalibrary.org to view the events calendar or to make an online donation. 

Sedona Public Library
Column for September 27, 2019
Written by Cheryl L. Yeatts, Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when Sedona Public Library joins with the American Library Association and public libraries nationwide to encourage everyone to access the free services available at their local library.
 
Your Sedona library card is probably one of the most valuable cards in your wallet. As a Sedona Public Library cardholder, not only can you access all of the services here in Sedona, you also have access to 42 other libraries in the Yavapai Library Network. That means over one million items are easily accessible to you via your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Just search for an item in the catalog on our website—www.sedonalibrary.org—put the item on hold, and have it delivered to your nearest library for pickup.
 
Don’t read print books anymore? Your library card gives you access to thousands of free e-books, audiobooks, and online magazines that you can download from the comfort of your own home.
 
Are you a movie buff? The Library is excited to offer Kanopy, a free streaming video service, to all Sedona Library patrons. With a selection of over 30,000 on-demand videos, the Kanopy collection includes new releases, independent and international cinema, classic movies, documentaries, educational films, and more.
 
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 name and email, and create a password. Kanopy will then send you an email—just open it, follow the directions, and start watching. You can stream up to four movies per month.
 
If you’re not ready for streaming, check out our extensive collection of DVDs. Choose from popular TV series, foreign films, nonfiction programming, and blockbusters. To watch a movie on the big screen, come to Flicker Shack Mondays for our free weekly movie at 6 p.m., or come to the new documentary film series, Reel Life Movie Night, held on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m.
 
In honor of Library Card Sign-up Month, we invite you to apply for a card at the main library in West Sedona or at Sedona Library in the Village. Getting one is free and easy at either location. Just stop in with your photo ID and proof of residency, and we will issue your card.
 
If you have a card but haven’t used it in a while, we encourage you to drop by the circulation desk and update your e-mail address and contact information so that you can receive our monthly e-newsletter, which will tell you about the programs and free services available each month.
 
Lost your card? During September we are waiving the $5 replacement card fee.  So stop in and get yourself a new card, completely free of charge.
 
For hours and directions, call 928-282-7714 or visit our website at www.sedonalibrary.org.  Call 928-284-1603 for Sedona Public Library in the Village, located in Bell Rock Plaza in the Village of Oak Creek.
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. 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 sent to: Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336, or you may donate online.

Sedona Public Library
Column for September 20, 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, from 10 a.m.  to 1 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 human books will courageously share their stories of being marginalized, categorized, or stigmatized for their differences.  
 
Expand your awareness of the limitations you may have set for yourself. Take this opportunity to connect with people in our community in a whole new and understanding way.
 
This year we have 26 Human Books with stigmas and labels such as:  Biker, Despised Vietnam Veteran, Homeless, Felon, New Age Weirdo, Thug, Untouchable, and more.
 
Human books that will be available include the following titles:
“Looks Ain’t Everything” – Riding a motorcycle, liking tats, and being a hippie don’t necessarily mean you’re a Hell’s Angel.
 
“Am I Sybil?” – One woman’s 30-year journey living with Dissociative Identity Disorder from severe childhood trauma of sexual abuse. Her compelling story describes the internal healing process of this controversial disorder.
 
“Trained to Kill vs. Trained to Heal” – Our military is the best in the world and it’s comprised of ordinary people doing extraordinary things at great personal risk and at great cost. Two retired colonels share their unique experiences of serving in the military and address the current prejudices that still exist.
 
Space is limited. Please register at this link for the Sedona Human Library™ event at: www.SedonaHumanLibrary2019.eventbrite.com
 
Attendees may select from up to three 45-minute sessions. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the sessions scheduled for 10:00, 11:00, and noon to select and locate your book.
 
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.
 
For more information, call Sedona Public Library at 928-282-7714 or visit www.sedonalibrary.org.

​Sedona Public Library
Column for September 13, 2019
Written by Virginia Volkman, Library Director

Each fall publishing season brings a large selection of new releases in every genre, from biography and history to mystery, science fiction, and literary fiction. Although you’ll have to wait a few months to read them all, you can still place a hold on many forthcoming books now so that your fall reading list is in order. Log in to your library account, give us a call at 928-282-7714, or drop by the reference desk to reserve your copies.
 
Here’s a small sampling of some of the most anticipated fall titles:
 
The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehisi Coates. The award-winning author of “Between the World and Me” makes his fiction debut with this novel about an enslaved man who gains a magical power and plots his escape. Reviewers praise the book as “beautifully written” and “not to be missed.”
 
Janis: Her Life and Music, by Holly George-Warren. This critically acclaimed biography, due out in October, paints a moving portrait of the legendary singer’s life, from her upbringing in a conservative Texas town to her tragic death at age 27. Don’t miss this standout biography that critics are calling “superb,” “top-notch,” and “illuminating.”
 
The Dutch House, by Ann Patchett. In this epic saga, Patchett explores themes such as sibling bonds, forgiveness, and nostalgia through the story of a family spanning five decades. Booklist Reviews writes that Patchett “is at her subtle yet shining finest in this gloriously incisive, often droll, quietly suspenseful drama.”
 
Find Me, by André Aciman. The characters of Aciman’s 2007 novel “Call Me by Your Name” return in this sequel set 20 years later. The novel is being hailed as “an elegant, memorable story of enduring love across the generations.”
 
The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood. This sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale” takes place 15 years after the events of the first book, and will be released on September 10. Pair this with the TV adaptation of the first book, on DVD, available at the Library.
 
Margaret Atwood fans, please note:  The Sedona International Film Festival will join theaters around the world to present a one-night-only theatrical event: “Margaret Atwood: Live in Cinemas” on Tuesday, September 10, at 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. Live from the London stage, and with exclusive readings from the new book by special guests, Atwood will be interviewed by broadcaster and author Samira Ahmed. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177 or visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org
 
This autumn, you’ll also see new books from Lee Child, Elin Hilderbrand, Stephen King, Paul Theroux, and other popular authors. Happy reading!
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are grateful for the support of the City of Sedona, Yavapai and Coconino Counties, businesses and foundations, and individuals like you. Your tax-deductible donation may be sent to: Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336 or can be made online at www.sedonalibrary.org.

​Sedona Public Library
Column for September 6, 2019
Written by Elizabeth Cate, Collection Development Librarian