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Sedona Public Library is pleased to announce the launch of our new website! The new site will be available today, and the web address for the home page will remain the same: www.sedonalibrary.org.
Our goal with the new website is to provide you with the same information and services as before while updating the site’s design; streamlining the site’s organization for easier access; and most importantly, offering a more mobile-friendly experience. Here are a few highlights of the site’s new features:
Please take a few minutes to explore the site, and soon you will get used to it and find your favorite pages. Also, we are here to answer any questions you have, so don’t hesitate to ask a staff member for help. Since the site is almost entirely new, some of your web browser bookmarks may change. However, bookmarks for many frequently used pages like your library account, the catalog, OverDrive, and the events calendar will stay the same. If you need assistance changing your bookmarks, please contact the reference desk. If you have feedback about the new site, you can e-mail it to us using the Contact the Website Team form, accessible on the Contact page, under the About menu. We are interested in knowing about non-working features and anything you believe could improve your experience of using the site. Enjoy getting to know the new library website! Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, supported by donations and grants. Your tax-deductible gifts fill a 20% budget gap after funding from Coconino and Yavapai Counties, the City of Sedona, and Friends of Sedona Library. We need and appreciate your support. Please send your donations to Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336, or go to www.sedonalibrary.org, where you can give online. Happy New Year from everyone at Sedona Public Library! Sedona Public Library Column for December 30, 2016 Written by Elizabeth Cate, Collection Development Librarian Rejoice! We’ve celebrated the winter solstice and endured the shortest day of the year. The days are now getting longer; the morning light coming sooner.
It’s a wonderful life we live here in Sedona, where even though the calendar tells us it’s winter, there are still enough colorful leaves on the trees to fool us into believing that it’s fall. Where until recently there were still irises in bloom. Where some days are warm enough for hiking in shorts. And yet … winter does bring colder temperatures and darker days that leave us lusting for light and warmth, and so we gather together. Many celebrations have as their root an ancient fear that the light would never return unless humans intervened with vigils or celebrations. For many cultures the winter solstice marked the time when cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter; it was almost the only time of year when a plentiful supply of fresh meat was available. The majority of wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking at this time. And so celebrations were lavish affairs with plenty to eat and drink. For me, the winter season means that citrus--oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit—have come to the farmers market, along with freshly picked local pecans and persimmons. Fresh vegetables and local beef will be on the table for Christmas dinner. Holiday bread and dessert will be made with local eggs. And a real treat at the market this year that carries the sunshine of summer into winter is Arizona olives. At Sedona Public Library we greet winter with the Annual Quilt Show, which features the colorful work of talented local quilters. This year’s show kicks off on Friday, December 30, and continues through February. Join us as we celebrate the season. Though the winter holidays are celebrated in many ways, all have in common the lighting of candles and filling our homes with warmth and good cheer. However you choose to celebrate the season, best wishes from the volunteers, staff, and members of the Library Board! And as you think about your end-of-year giving for 2016, please think of Sedona Public Library. Whether you borrow a book, movie, audio book, magazine; depend on our computers; come to our programs; look to us to translate a document; or need shelter from the storm—we are here for you. At your service in facilities created by you, and for you. And we’re there for you 24/7 at sedonalibrary.org. While we do it for you, we couldn’t do it without you. Your tax-deductible gifts fill a 20% budget gap after funding from the City of Sedona, Coconino and Yavapai Counties, and Friends of Sedona Library. We need and appreciate your support. Come by, or go to www.sedonalibrary.org where you can give online. Sedona Public Library Column for December 23, 2016 Written by Virginia Volkman, Library Director Recently, when I asked a friend to direct his end-of-year philanthropy to Sedona Public Library, he said, “I don’t use the Library.” I was perplexed as I am a lifelong library user, and he’s an avid reader. When I asked why, he answered, “I buy the books I read.” Then he rushed off leaving me to murmur to his disappearing back.
I wanted to tell him that Sedona Public Library is not just a storehouse for books; it’s a thriving community center. Tell him that when you first walk into the doors of the Library, you quickly gather that you haven’t entered a book rental warehouse. Granted, after being awestruck by the beauty and strength of the structure with its red rocks and sandstone pillars, the sparkling walls of stained glass, and the sky-high ceilings and windows, you will see lots of books. There are 63,645 available on our shelves. Beyond the books, you’ll see magazines, newspapers, DVDs, CDs, reference volumes, maps, computers, copy and fax machines, gardens, and artwork, and you won’t have even stepped beyond the circulation desk or tapped into the 1.3 million items available in our shared Yavapai Library Network. Depending on the month, you’ll view a quilt show, weaving exhibit, or photograph display. Depending on the season, you’ll see a holiday giving tree, a Veterans tribute, or our resident dinosaur dressed as “Tina Rex” for Halloween. You never know what you’ll find beyond the books because at Sedona Public Library there are hundreds of events, shows, movies, presentations, meetings, and more, every year. Local organizations and the Library offer opportunities to meet, greet, decide, listen, learn, share, network, and play. And there’s more. When you walk into the Library, you’ll hear whispering, discussing, giggling, or singing. People come seeking quiet time, or less quiet time, as the Library is a place to research, study, teach, and, of course, read. You’ll connect with staff, volunteers, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family. Or you’ll find a quiet place to sit alone and use our free Wifi, download one of the thousands of e-books we have online, or just catch up on the daily news. This is Sedona’s place to ask questions, get answers, seek insight, and find inspiration or solitude. People come to the library, in person or online, in West Sedona or Bell Rock Plaza, looking for something. Be it a book, a discovery, a story, or an answer, Sedona Public Library has it, or will find it with a smile, and for free. People come because a town isn’t a community without a library. And Sedona has an amazing one. As you think about your end-of-year philanthropy for 2016, please think of Sedona Public Library. Whether you buy your books, like my friend, or borrow them; pay for movies, or come to Monday’s Flicker Shack movie, we are here for you. Forty-eight hours a week, 313 days a year, with 120 active volunteers, 12 board members, and 21 staff members, at your service in facilities created by you, and for you. And we’re there for you 24/7 at sedonalibrary.org. While we do it for you, we couldn’t do it without you. Your tax-deductible gifts fill a 20% budget gap after funding from the City of Sedona, Coconino and Yavapai Counties, and Friends of Sedona Library. We need and appreciate your support. Come by, or go to www.sedonalibrary.org where you can give online. And when I see that friend of mine, I’ll be sure to let him know all that he’s missing. Thanks, and happy holidays from everyone at Sedona Public Library, more than your neighborhood book depot. Sedona Public Library Column for December 16, 2016 Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director A variety of literary prizes are awarded annually, and some years can hold a surprise or two. In 2012, for instance, the Pulitzer board refused to award the prize in fiction, even though the nominating committee submitted three novels they felt were worthy of the honor.
Of course, this year’s biggest shocker was the award of the Nobel Prize in literature to Bob Dylan. The songwriter is the first musician to win the prize, and critical reaction to the choice was mixed: some argued that song lyrics do not rise to the level of literature, while others applauded the selection. This unconventional decision was mirrored by Dylan’s reaction to winning the prize, as he refused to comment about it for several days and did not attend the Nobel ceremony. You can decide if the judges were correct or off-base by checking out a Dylan music CD, concert DVD, or book from the Library. There are more than 50 CDs available from the Yavapai Library Network, spanning Dylan’s half-century-long career. In addition to reading Bob Dylan biographies, you can find works written by him, such as his collected lyrics and several children’s books based on his songs. A more predictable winner this year was “Underground Railroad,” by Colson Whitehead, which received the National Book Award in fiction. The novel, which tells the story of a slave who escapes her plantation on an actual underground train, was already a bestseller, thanks to being an Oprah’s book club selection. The work is available in several formats besides regular and large print, including audiobook on CD, Playaway, and e-book. “The Sympathizer,” by Viet Thanh Nguyen, is the winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. This spy novel is set during and after the Vietnam War, and it was notably the author’s debut book. If you enjoy American history, check out “Custer’s Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America,” by T.J. Stiles, this year’s Pulitzer winner in the history category. Theater lovers know that “Hamilton” won the Tony for best musical, but it also won the Pulitzer drama award. You can read the musical’s libretto, see photographs from the production, and learn about the creation of the show in the book “Hamilton: The Revolution,” by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The Man Booker award, one of the most prestigious English-language literary prizes, was not without controversy this year. It was given to Paul Beatty, the first U.S. writer to win in the history of the competition, for his novel “The Sellout,” about the unjust shooting of an African-American man by the police. Beatty was not favored to win the award, and some British writers object to American authors being eligible for the prize, claiming that they have enough awards of their own. Literary awards offer a critical stamp of approval, but if you’d also like to know what your fellow Sedonans are reading, ask a librarian or volunteer at the main library or at Sedona Public Library in the Village. Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, supported by donations and grants. Your tax-deductible donation may be sent to: Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. Sedona Public Library Column for December 9, 2016 Written by Elizabeth Cate, Collection Development Librarian How exciting! The annual Happy Holiday family event will be held on Saturday, December 10. The family fun starts at 11 a.m. in the community room with interactive stories, live music, and crafty activities for children. We’ve invited Mr. and Mrs. Claus, too! Mark your calendar for a morning of holiday spirit and a photo opportunity with Santa.
The December calendar also includes many of the library activities that are offered year-round, such as story time. In the children’s room, library staff regularly presents three story time classes weekly, on Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Every Saturday at 11 a.m., Meghan delivers an engaging and educational family story time and crafts program, with the first Saturday being a bilingual, English-Spanish learning experience. Tuesday’s preschool class and Thursday’s infant and toddler class both start at 10:30 a.m. At these programs, parents often take the opportunity to share their parenting ideas and check out books on homeschooling, Waldorf and Montessori philosophies, and many other topics. On the first Thursday of every month, there are two more reasons to visit your library. Annette begins the day at 10:30 a.m. with her unique and much-loved half-hour music program for toddlers, preschoolers, and their caregivers. Many traditional and multicultural tunes are strummed and sung. Children and parents alike enjoy playing an assortment of rhythm instruments and dancing with silk scarves. Last month, we all did the limbo and laughed the whole time. And the after-school crowd can enjoy a free G- or PG-rated movie with popcorn in the community room beginning at 3:45 p.m. Everyone is welcome, and children under 10, as is our library policy, will have their caregiver nearby. Did you know that on the first Wednesday of each month, all three of our local schools let the children out early? On these early-release days, Sedona Public Library provides a variety of literature-based, hands-on activities from noon to 4 p.m. in the community room. Past themes have included Johnny Appleseed stories and edible art, the world of sunflowers, origami paper folding, and clay sessions. Children and teens are welcome to drop in at any time. Often, a theme-based presentation takes place at 1:30 p.m. for those interested in learning more about the activities of the day. No registration is required, and children under 10 will have an older caregiver nearby. The next early-release day is December 7—drop in! The Library also offers chess instruction and computer coding gatherings. More spontaneously, we provide pop-up opportunities that could involve learning a new game or working on a group puzzle, a quick origami session, a make-it take-it craft activity, a science or art demonstration, or working with an educational kit from our STEAM cupboard (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics). Feeling techie? Pop in and participate in a global initiative called Hour of Code, from December 5 through 9. The library website provides home access to a wide range of library information, including children’s book award lists and a calendar of youth events, so check often for updates. Please don’t hesitate to call the youth services department with any comments, questions, or ideas for best serving the children, teens, and families of our community. 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 December 2, 2016 Written by Karen Mack, Youth Services Librarian |
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