Happy New Year from the Library

For this week’s column, the last of 2018, I thought I would share with you what I believe is the absolute most important, and fun, thing that I do as the development director at Sedona Public Library. No, not ask for support, although it is certainly related, and fun. Instead, I’d like to show you what is at the crux of any good fundraising endeavor, and that is the story.
 
You see, every week we fill the lines of this weekly column with announcements about the array of services and programs we excitedly offer, and with statistics we proudly report the number of patrons who have visited, how many items are in our collection, and the many community groups that partner with us. But all of that means nothing until we color it with you, your voice and your words as you tell us why this library is so important to you and to this community.
 
We’ve been gathering your stories all year in celebration of our 60th anniversary. There is simply no better way to celebrate, and yes, to ask for support, than by sharing your stories. Thus, in making a request for your new, continued, online, or monthly support, let me first share the following.

• “You definitely are a jewel, and we are proud to show you off. Always beautiful as a public building; shining with bright new books; full of friendly, helpful staff; people of all ages smiling with books under their arms; so many community services. You sparkle brightly and enrich us! Thank you from a 40-year resident.” Rayna, Sedona.
•  “We are staying with our four grandchildren in Sedona using our Diamond Resort membership.  This is the best children’s library we have ever seen. I am a retired attorney, reading specialist, and proud grandmother. My daughter is an MD/PHD.  Congratulations to your staff for a job well done.” Susan, Tucson.
•  “Youth services helped me find new books that I like, and my true potential in reading. The first time I entered the Library I was amazed at how many books there were and how big the building was, and now I always feel relaxed and happy when I enter.” Pradhumna, Sedona.
• “With everything that I owned packed in my Honda Civic, I moved to Sedona to pursue my life as an abstract artist and poet. I used the Library computers, instead of buying my own, to check emails and create fliers for my art workshops. The Library offered an avenue to share my work with the world, and I have self-published 40 books to date.”  Marita, Sedona.
• “It’s SO awesome to have a library in VOC. Everyone is so helpful and friendly, they always go the extra mile, especially when my husband was so sick. They helped me find information on the computer and ran copies for me.” Princess, VOC.
•  “I’ve lived here since the 1980s when the Library was uptown. I lived nearby so I used it for everything – including meeting clients so they didn’t visit my messy studio! I like the new Library, and Monday Night Movies rock!” V. Norton, Sedona.
•  “Library events have opened a whole new world for me and added a fun and interesting dimension to my life.” Arla, Cornville.
• “I’ve used many good libraries, but this is the first great one. It’s my all-inclusive entertainment resource—books, videos, presentations.” Karen, Sedona.

Thank you for your support, your stories, and your enthusiasm. We are humbled by the breadth of your praise, and we are proud to do all that we do, for this community, for free.
 
It is my job to assure you that we couldn’t do it without support from individuals like you, the City of Sedona, the Friends of the Sedona Library, and property tax dollars we receive from Yavapai and Coconino Counties.
 
It is also my job, and my pleasure, to ask you to please remember the Library when you consider your year-end giving. We’ve made it easy at sedonalibrary.org/donate. Thanks, and Happy New Year!

​Sedona Public Library
Column for December 28, 2018
Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director