As published in the Red Rock News

I’m one of those old-fashioned people who still sends out Christmas cards.  And even keeps Christmas cards—for years and years.  And even transports the old ones across the country!
 
I am grateful that I still have my long-forgotten treasure of cards to remind me of people that I haven’t seen in a long time.  One such person is Betty Tisch.
 
When I was director of Sedona Public Library from 1979-1985, I had the privilege of working with Betty.  She volunteered at the circulation desk and was very active with the book sales.  When I moved from Sedona I kept in touch with her and have cards filled with news about the “library folks," the campaign to raise funds for the new library on White Bear Road, and news about Betty’s family.
 
Betty volunteered at the Library for twenty years, from 1978 to 1998.  She was also a member of the Library board and served as its president from 1986 to 1988.  This is how Betty approached her term as president in her 1986 Christmas card:  “I’m getting a big kick out of my job as President of the board—all kinds of exciting things going on!”
 
A year later in reference to the building project she wrote: “The fundraising is progressing—we topped $190,000 yesterday, but we need $800,000 more!  I’m learning a whole bunch—and I feel that I need everything I’ve ever learned in my whole life to swing this.”
 
The following year, Betty wrote: “We had a meeting this morning with the architects—if we can somehow get some more money, we are eager to start digging in the spring.  There’s a lot of Will if we can find a Way!”
 
In 1993, Betty shared this news, “I resigned from the board in May after 12 years of service . . . But I am still chairman of the annual book sale . . . we took in $10,250 for the building fund.  I am pleased.”
 
The 1994 Christmas card announced:  “Well, we’ve gone from ‘Mom & Pop’ operation to big-time!  The new building is magnificent—computers everywhere—the card catalog is on computer—we have 109 volunteers—the two atriums are planted with native cactus and succulents, and are dressed up with poinsettias for Christmas.”
 
As the Library swings into 2018, we’ll be celebrating our 60th anniversary and have much to remember and celebrate.  We’ll be remembering special volunteers like Betty Tisch and her many contributions to the Library!
 
Long after her contribution of time, Betty has continued to support the Library.  She passed away last June and the Library has recently received a bequest from her estate.  We are very appreciative and honored that she remembered the Library in this way.
 
I’d like to make a suggestion—you may want to bring back the Christmas card tradition.  You never know what a treasure of memories and history you’ll find in those cards.
 
Happy New Year from everyone at Sedona Public Library!

Sedona Public Library
Column for December 29, 2017
Written by Virginia Volkman, Library Director

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 some days are warm enough for hiking in shorts.

And yet … winter does bring colder temperatures and darker days.  We spend more time indoors and we gather together to share stories.

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 22, and continues through February 15.  Please join us as we celebrate the season.

More than 60 quilts are included in this year’s show at the Library.  As families gather for the holidays, I was especially intrigued by a story of three of the quilts.  Three generations of women took the same blocks and put them together in different ways to create three different quilts.

Dorothy Shank, her daughter Alice Sutter, and her granddaughter Rachel Capite each made about 30 Dresden Plate flowers in February 2017.  They each purchased the panel “Radiance” and coordinating fabrics to go with their blocks.  They agreed that they would design and construct their quilts without help or ideas from each other.  Their goal was to showcase all three quilts in the Sedona quilt show. And they’ve done it!

Each quilt was given a unique name by its creator.  Dorothy’s is "Petals from Heaven,” Alice chose "Fountain Full of Shooting Stars," and Rachel labeled her quilt "Labor of Love."

Another quilt with a family story is "Crown Royal," by Judy Hockelberg.  A friend of Judy's was a bartender for many years and gave Judy a lot of Crown Royal bags.  Judy made this quilt, which incorporates the bags, for her youngest grandson while he was deployed to Afghanistan with the Air Force.  He will be coming home in March to receive his quilt.

Though the winter holidays are celebrated in many ways, all have in common 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 2017, please think of Sedona Public Library. Whether you borrow a book, movie, audio book, or 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.  We’re 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 supplement our funding from the City of Sedona, Coconino and Yavapai Counties, and Friends of the Sedona Library. We appreciate your support. Come by or go to www.sedonalibrary.org where you can give online.

Sedona Public Library
Column for December 22, 2017
Written by Virginia Volkman, Library Director

You may have recently read our magazine Check It Out or received our annual appeal letter. These important publications share information about the tremendous work Sedona Public Library does in the community. We provided lists, statistics and other data because libraries across the globe are measured by things like their number of library card holders, computer sessions, visitors, programs, etc. We are proud of the work represented in these numbers, but the most compelling stories we have to tell are from you, our library patrons. It is you, your stories, and your need for our services that make this library the heart of Sedona.
 
People come to the Library on a quest of one sort or another, whether to find a recent article, download a book, finish a job application, listen to an author, or meet with a business partner. The needs of our patrons serve as our directives, and we provide the resources, assistance, and information you seek, as well as the space. Our facilities offer a simple and quiet comfort for individuals, or perfect meeting rooms for small and large groups.
 
With Sedona Public Library’s two locations—on White Bear Road in West Sedona and at Bell Rock Plaza in the Village of Oak Creek—198,000 people come through our doors each year. And more than 20,000 items are downloaded via our website. Each visit, in person or online, from people near and far represents someone who comes to the Library for a good laugh, a good cry, a good read, or a solution to a nagging problem. You stop by, and we’re glad you do. Here are some of the stories you’ve shared.
 

• A Vietnam veteran, up against hard times and without transportation, believed if he could sell his collection of valuable books he could afford a down payment on a new car. But he didn’t know how to do it. Sedona Public Library helped, and he sold the books as hoped, made a down payment on a vehicle, and he was back on his feet in no time.

 

• A Hungarian woman, an avid reader and patron, felt isolated, and she dearly needed to read a book in her native language. Sedona Public Library found books for her via interlibrary loan, and at last she felt connected to the country of her birth where she hadn’t set foot since her childhood.

 

• A little boy logged a record number of reading minutes in our summer reading program. He explained that he was reading so much because his family traveled to a Phoenix hospital four times a week to visit his sister. Reading took his mind off the sad things going on in his family’s life.

 

• An immigrant mother of three worked diligently with Sedona Public Library staff to complete her citizenship paperwork. Finally, she attended her naturalization ceremony, put her hand on her heart, and took her Oath of Allegiance.

 

• A woman came in accompanying her elderly mother. She explained that her mom, an artist, had lost her creative spirit due to traumatic illness. She believed that if her mom would only sing again, she’d regain her creativity. They were delighted when a librarian helped them find the Sweet Adeline sheet music they sought so they could practice before an audition with a local group.

 
At this time of year, when we are all bombarded with requests from nonprofits asking for toys, turkeys, coats, or cash, Sedona Public Library wants to step back and tell you that yes, we so appreciate your gifts. But more importantly, we appreciate you. We are grateful for who you are and what you bring to the Library each time you enter. Your thought-provoking questions, your careful suggestions, your spirit and curiosity make this place the lively, informative place that it is. We’re the heart of the city, and you and yours are always welcome here. Come on by, you never know what stories you’ll hear at your Library.
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. 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 December 15, 2017
Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director

Sedona Public Library, in partnership with Arizona Humanities, is pleased to announce the return of Arizona Speaks programs to our community. These programs will be held at the Church of the Nazarene, 55 Rojo Drive in the Village of Oak Creek. All presentations begin at 1:30 p.m.

We have scheduled some outstanding speakers and presentations over the next several months:
 

• Monday, December 11: What do Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid, and John Wayne have in common? Legends have grown up around them. Writers have altered, exaggerated, and sometimes lied about the stories of these folk heroes. During his program “Arizona’s Wild Myths and Legends”, author and historian Jim Turner will examine how the legends developed and discuss their impact on the way we view the past, act in the present, and build the future. 

 

• Wednesday, January 10:  Dr. John Westerlund, American West historian from Flagstaff, will share his new program “Flagstaff Pioneer John Elden:  Murder, Mystery, Myth, and History.” The presentation examines the infamous 1887 murder of Johnny Elden, Jr., the young son of pioneer John Elden. Johnny’s gravesite is perhaps the most visited in Northern Arizona. But was the child really murdered?—find out at this fascinating program.

 

• Monday, February 5:  Dr. Betsy Fahlman, Professor of Art History at Arizona State University, will present “African American Art, Fort Huachuca, and World War II.”  Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista is the surprising site of a remarkable story of African American art during World War II. Central to the chronicle is Arizona painter Lew Davis. The base was home to two black divisions, and Davis painted murals for the two segregated officers’ clubs, as well as organizing an exhibition of 86 works by 37 African American artists. Dr. Fahlman will cover the works and contributions of Davis in this session.

 

• Wednesday, March 7:  Award-winning author, historian, and lecturer Jan Cleere will present “Legacies of the Past:  Arizona Women Who Made History.” Many early Arizona women became known for their fortitude in the face of adversity, their confrontation of extraordinary and sometimes dangerous situations, their adventuresome spirits, and their dedication to improving the lives of others. This program details the lives of remarkable Arizona women who had an impact on the territory and the state.

 
These programs, funded by Arizona Humanities and Friends of the Sedona Library, are free and open to the public. Thanks to the Church of the Nazarene for providing the venue for Arizona Speaks programs.
 
For more information about Arizona Speaks programs, please contact Cheryl Yeatts, Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village at 928-284-1603 or email voc@sedonalibrary.org.
 
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, Arizona 86336. 

Sedona Public Library
Column for December 8, 2017
Written by: Cheryl L. Yeatts, Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village

Celebrations galore will happen at Sedona Public Library as we greet the winter!  The Library provides resources for learning about the festivals, traditions, and sacred days that will soon take place locally and globally.  A favorite youth services staff tradition is hosting an annual celebration of joy and family.
 
This year our Happy Holiday program will be on Saturday, December 9,  in the Si Birch Community Room.  Beginning at 11 a.m., this all-ages program will include seasonal stories, interactive live music, snacks, and crafty activities for children.  And we've invited Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus!
 
What do you do in December to mark the season?  Do you honor special days such as Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or prepare for Three Kings Day? Maybe you observe St. Lucia Day, Winter Solstice, Omisoka, or Boxing Day!  December is a great time to establish new or keep up with old family traditions.  It is also a perfect time for sharing stories and books that open a “window” for children, giving them a look at the diversity of celebrations and traditions of families close to home and around the world.  
 
So many of the seasonal children’s books found in the Library are those most beautifully illustrated.  The stories range from being simple to richly descriptive and informative, and sometimes the text begs to be sung out loud as in Silent Night, illustrated by Susan Jeffers;  I Have a Little Dreidel, by Maxie Baum; and  Feliz Navidad, by Jose Feliciano.  
 
When you enter the Children’s Room, through the door next to the dinosaur, the books about winter celebrations are easy to find.  They are all displayed on top of the picture book shelves. As you select books to take home, you may find two of my favorite seasonal titles:  A Coyote Solstice Tale, by Thomas King, which won the 2010 American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award for Best Picture Book,  and Marta and the Manger Straw, by Virginia Kroll.
 
In addition to the Happy Holiday program on December 9, you may want to attend other events with your children or grandchildren.  On December 6, from 1 to 3 p.m., after-school activities will include working with clay and learning how to make a 3D paper snowflake.   All supplies will be provided.  
 
Drop-in Chess Club is on Thursdays from 3:45 to 5 p.m., with Dr. B offering instruction on December 21 and 28. Chess boards, hands-on science kits, board games, and simple art supplies are available at any time in the Children’s Room.  Just ask your friendly children’s librarian for help getting them out of the closet.
  
Story time programs happen every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning, and for an outdoor interactive reading experience visit Sunset Park playground and run to the perimeter fence. Every Autumn Comes the Bear, by Jim Arnosky, is the new picture book on display.  Enjoy your library during this festive season!
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) charitable 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 sedonalibrary.org.

Sedona Public Library
Column for December 1, 2017
Written by Karen Mack, Youth Services Librarian