Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: August 15, 2008
Who among us has not considered another career? Whether your job is not providing enough financial compensation, or not enough personal satisfaction, whether you have a lousy boss, or you maybe you’ve been down-sized, the desire to do “something else” is a not uncommon. Yet, making such a change is no easy. A bit of guidance would be helpful. That is where the Sedona Public Library comes in – we have lots of books that can assist you as you figure out what sort of new career would be right for you.
The grandfather of all books on rethinking your working career is Richard Bolles’ What Color is Your Parachute? Truth be known, I used this book when I made the change from food service to librarian and I am convinced that it was the correct move. Full of self-examination exercises to give you a better understanding of your skills, strengths and natural inclinations, it offers you a path to dig deeply into yourself and learn what manner of career would give you the most satisfaction. Updated every couple of years, whether it is an “older” title or not, it remains relevant and worthwhile.
Thomas Moore gained popularity with his Care of the Soul, but his newest book, A Life at Work, is based on the premise that your chosen avocation should give you a sense of joy and satisfaction. In his book, you learn about the “joy of discovering what you were born to do.” In it, Moore “explores the often difficult process – the obstacles, blocks, and hardships of our own making – that we go through on our way to discovering our purpose.” As readable as his other works, Moore provides a wonderful resource of delving into our true purpose in life.
Some of us are shy, others more gregarious. Imagine being in a job that doesn’t take into account basic personality features, forever forcing the person to be someone he or she is truly capable of being. The new book, Do What you Are, by Paul Tieger and Barbara Barron gives you the tools to discover the perfect career for you through the secrets of personality type. It provides you with the tools to understand how you process information, make decisions, and interact with the world around you. With this understanding of yourself, you can more easily find the career that is right for you.
If one person’s insight into the topic is good, the insight of fifty should be fifty times better, right? In The Power of Experience, that many great writers opine on the quest for a lifetime of meaning. Not necessarily restricted to career matters, the authors examine the value of a life lived deeply in which wisdom is gained and accessible. Presenting the ideas and thoughts of such notable writers as Gail Sheehy (author of the Passages books), Mary Oliver, a remarkable Southwestern writer, Amy Tan, Robert Bly, Elmore Leonard and many more, it presents a wide range of ideas based on experience. Maybe you don’t have a job you want to change, but only wish to “live deeply” – this book will prove a satisfying read.
Ann Patchett, author of Bel Canto and other titles, writes in her small book What Now? Explores the arc of her varied life and asks, “What now represents our excitement and our future, the very vitality of life?” Highlighting the possibilities of the unknown, she reminds the reader that there is as much joy in the journey as there is in reaching the destination.
Sometimes, just learning to be comfortable with life as it is, not as it should be is the best lesson of all. Given our penchant for wanting the “next thing,” Eleanor Wiley believes that There Are No Mistakes in our lives, only rich experiences that have the opportunity to let wisdom grow in our hearts. She helps the reader to recognize the need for and gain the ability to know where you came from, know your story, accept yourself, laugh at yourself, take care of yourself, and more. It may be a short read, but it holds lots of gems within its pages.
Finally, there are moments in life that offer up the chance for change if we only recognize that opportunity. Jeanne Safer wrote Death Benefits: How Losing a Parent Can Change an Adult’s Life – For the Better. Having recently lost my father, I was intrigued by the book’s premise. I didn’t have a relationship that could be called problematic the end of which might have offered a new start, but Safer’s basic questions for self-examination can open one’s eyes to things even the happiest of parent-child relationships might have disguised. And if you did have a challenging relationship with your parent, moving beyond it can be hugely beneficial. I believe that there is something here for most readers.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: August 8, 2008
Television is such an odd invention. I have a friend who calls it the haunted fish tank and that seems an apt name for something that occasionally provides something of real interest, but mostly doesn’t change. Yet, recently there have been a great deal of shows that exhibit real writing and characterizations that deserve our attention. There still remains the problem of all the advertisements, and of course the fact that you have to be in front of the TV at the right time every week. Now, Sedona Public Library has a solution to these – whole TV series on DVD.
A couple of years ago, I became aware of the show “Joan of Arcadia,” a decidedly different program about a teenage girl who spoke with God. The writing and characters were so good that I had to see the whole series. At the same time, the Library began to receive requests to purchase the show and we found it on DVD. After adding it to the collection, we began to receive requests for other shows, also on DVD. Suddenly, we discovered that many shows, especially those on HBO, were available, just as was the Joan series.
Did you watch the “Planet Earth” series, that magnificent weekly event that had the most stunning images of life on this planet? We discovered that you could get that whole series, too. I don’t think that there are any more beautiful shots of animals, weather and landforms than in that series. The Library offers the entire array of shows to take home and enjoy at your leisure – and with no commercials.
Critical acclaim was heaped on the show “The Wire,” about a newspaper office in Baltimore. We offer the entire series, allowing you to keep abreast of the numerous story lines, uninterrupted.
After September 11th, the show “24” gained considerable traction when it portrayed CTU agent Jack Bauer in his pursuit of terrorists. Tough, gritty, and decidedly pointed in its view of the threats against this nation, it was both loved and hated, but definitely watched.
HBO seems to have it fair share of truly oddball shows that would not be able to show on regular network TV. “Six Feet Under” is just such a show about a family that runs a funeral parlor in LA. Each show begins with someone’s death who then becomes a “customer” of the family business, around whom all sorts of other story lines revolve. It’s well worth checking out. Just don’t say that I didn’t warn you about the oddball nature of the show!
The BBC has loads of great shows of all sorts – drama, comedy, intrigue and more. One great example of their comedies is the show “Keeping Up Appearances.” With episode titles like “The Name is Bouquet: B-U-C-K-E-T,” “Welcoming the Dishy Vicar,” or “A Fate Worse Than Senility,” you are bound to be entertained for hours. Given the fact that Sedona Public Library offers a complete set of all the episodes, that entertainment will last for hours.
Everyone loves a good western (or should!), and most of those same folks love a good science fiction tale. Why not combine them into one western-flavored science fiction series called “Firefly?” Add great characters, good writing, clever combinations of the two genres and you have a series that is eminently watchable and loads of fun. The show even spawned a feature length movie that we have added to the collection.
This list of shows is by no means complete. We have dozens of great sets of shows, whole seasons worth, that you can check out and enjoy, commercial free and on your own schedule. Take the time to visit the DVD section and discover them for yourself. And then curl up in your favorite chair with a bowl of popcorn!
Red Rock News
Date: August 8, 2008
Television is such an odd invention. I have a friend who calls it the haunted fish tank and that seems an apt name for something that occasionally provides something of real interest, but mostly doesn’t change. Yet, recently there have been a great deal of shows that exhibit real writing and characterizations that deserve our attention. There still remains the problem of all the advertisements, and of course the fact that you have to be in front of the TV at the right time every week. Now, Sedona Public Library has a solution to these – whole TV series on DVD.
A couple of years ago, I became aware of the show “Joan of Arcadia,” a decidedly different program about a teenage girl who spoke with God. The writing and characters were so good that I had to see the whole series. At the same time, the Library began to receive requests to purchase the show and we found it on DVD. After adding it to the collection, we began to receive requests for other shows, also on DVD. Suddenly, we discovered that many shows, especially those on HBO, were available, just as was the Joan series.
Did you watch the “Planet Earth” series, that magnificent weekly event that had the most stunning images of life on this planet? We discovered that you could get that whole series, too. I don’t think that there are any more beautiful shots of animals, weather and landforms than in that series. The Library offers the entire array of shows to take home and enjoy at your leisure – and with no commercials.
Critical acclaim was heaped on the show “The Wire,” about a newspaper office in Baltimore. We offer the entire series, allowing you to keep abreast of the numerous story lines, uninterrupted.
After September 11th, the show “24” gained considerable traction when it portrayed CTU agent Jack Bauer in his pursuit of terrorists. Tough, gritty, and decidedly pointed in its view of the threats against this nation, it was both loved and hated, but definitely watched.
HBO seems to have it fair share of truly oddball shows that would not be able to show on regular network TV. “Six Feet Under” is just such a show about a family that runs a funeral parlor in LA. Each show begins with someone’s death who then becomes a “customer” of the family business, around whom all sorts of other story lines revolve. It’s well worth checking out. Just don’t say that I didn’t warn you about the oddball nature of the show!
The BBC has loads of great shows of all sorts – drama, comedy, intrigue and more. One great example of their comedies is the show “Keeping Up Appearances.” With episode titles like “The Name is Bouquet: B-U-C-K-E-T,” “Welcoming the Dishy Vicar,” or “A Fate Worse Than Senility,” you are bound to be entertained for hours. Given the fact that Sedona Public Library offers a complete set of all the episodes, that entertainment will last for hours.
Everyone loves a good western (or should!), and most of those same folks love a good science fiction tale. Why not combine them into one western-flavored science fiction series called “Firefly?” Add great characters, good writing, clever combinations of the two genres and you have a series that is eminently watchable and loads of fun. The show even spawned a feature length movie that we have added to the collection.
This list of shows is by no means complete. We have dozens of great sets of shows, whole seasons worth, that you can check out and enjoy, commercial free and on your own schedule. Take the time to visit the DVD section and discover them for yourself. And then curl up in your favorite chair with a bowl of popcorn!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Red Rock News
Date: August 1, 2008
It is hard to believe the month of August is here, and school will start for most children in the area in the next days and weeks. Another Summer Reading Program is about to end. Friday, August 8 is the last day to report reading and for pick up prizes from either the
The number of participants in the 2008 Summer Reading program this year was 204 compared to 270 participants last year! This is a 34% decrease in participants compared to last year! Despite the fact that the library offers this program opportunity free as are the majority of the workshops and programs we offer weekly, the library does compete with many opportunities and other programs the area offers for kids. From the Humane Society summer camp to the College for Kids classes at
The participants included 18 pre-schoolers, 14 home-schooled youth, 10 students from
Over the years, some have questioned the need for children's programming. They have asked “Why is it so important for a library to offer a summer reading program and events for kids in the summer?” They have employed the thought that children should automatically visit the library, check out books and read during the summer for enjoyment. Are we wasting our time and money and efforts to attempt to "spoon feed" kids into doing an activity that they should naturally want to do? And is it the Library's "job" to hold activities for children, much like what they would receive at summer camp or pay to see for entertainment?
A survey of questions in English and Spanish developed by a representative group of Children’s librarians across the State of
I love seeing the enthusiasm kids showed when they came to the Library to report their reading progress. It is so much fun to hear the creative songs, read the stories and see the wonderful bugs made out of recycled materials, 50th anniversary bookmarks, and book covers children created. It is thrilling to hear kids express their feelings about what excites them about reading. Some comments kids share tell how reading cures boredom and makes them feel better and happier, helps them with spelling, makes them feel good, helps them read faster, and helps them get smarter.
Many people have involved in the execution of the summer program this year. Thanks to all the staff; especially my assistant Mrs. Lusher and my summer assistant Ms. Wilkinson and all my teen volunteers who took phone calls, registered kids, and helped patrons find what they were looking for. Finally, I want to extend a big thank you to all the parents and grandparents who assisted children’s participation in this program, despite road construction and travel delays.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: July 25, 2008
This summer hasn't been the hottest on record, but the Sedona Public Library knows a thing or two about hot. Whenever an author of repute puts out a new book, things get hot here. People want to read it and they rush into the Library to find the book. Sometimes, the book has already been checked out, so they get into the Holds queue, and if they wait too long, they get hot. But, we have a new solution to cooling off these temperatures – our new Popular Collection.
Located next to the Checkout Desk is a wooden shelf unit that previously held the Playaway units. Now, we offer you all the latest bestsellers in book form, or DVD, or audio format. You can check these HOT new titles out just like the New Books section selections, but with a few caveats.
Our goal is to encourage people to come into the Library. Folks are getting better and better at searching the catalog online and placing holds on items they want. But, sometimes the queues can get long and that frustrates people. So, the Popular Collection offers the same titles, but without the ability to place a hold on them. Instead, by coming into the Library, you will find a shelf chock-full of the newest titles on a first come, first served basis. Given the newness of this collection, for now we are limiting the number of books you can check out at one time to one item, but only until the collection grows. The other "rules" for their use are the same as all of our other items – three week check out.
By doing this, we are offering a "reward" for those who have braved the current traffic challenges. You will certainly find lots more to do and read while you are here, so plan to spend a few hours in the Library's cool environs, but stop at the Popular Collection shelves first!
Another solution to the traffic delays we are all experiencing lately is to make the very best use of your time in the car. As you sit in the line of cars learning to negotiate the roundabouts, rather than fretting and getting your blood pressure up, "read" a book!
I am not suggesting that you pour over pages of text while driving. Instead, how about a book on tape or CD? The Library offers hundreds of titles, both fiction and nonfiction, that you can pop into your player and spend your time in the car more productively. We even offer the previously mentioned Playaways, an MP3 player with a book preloaded. You can listen to your favorite book anywhere, anytime. So easy, and so much better than "going postal" while waiting in lines of traffic.
Be sure to keep your calendars marked for Friday's here at the Library as we offer our 50th Anniversary Authors series, weekly. Every Friday, we offer a local, regional, national or youth author as they present their work and sign copies you may have. It is a great opportunity to meet the author you are interested in. Last Friday, we had Wayne Ranney, geologist, as he presented his theories and those of others regarding how the Grand Canyon was formed. That big old hole in the ground to the north of us is in no way a settle issue as to how it was formed and when. Wayne's presentation was fascinating and well worth the time to attend. Our other authors are also well worth your time.
On Friday, August 1st at 6 PM, local author Kris Neri will sit in the moderator's seat with a panel of mystery writers to discuss the work of writing about the darker side of human nature and the challenges of making these stories entertaining. Sitting the panel will be Doris Casey, Kerrie Droban, Ben Small, and Betty Webb. A departure from our usual one author event, this is sure to be a fascinating trip into the minds of the people who delve into the minds of murders and their pursuers. Don't miss this one!
Sedona often empties out during the summer and folks think that there is nothing to do here in the hottest months. Contrary to that idea is the Sedona Public Library's many programs, services and of course, our great collection of materials. Come and spend time here and you will see how to take the hottest months and spend a cool time! Visit us today!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: July 18, 2008
It's a new world. So much has gone electronic nowadays and at Sedona Public Library, we have gone electronic in spades. Whether it is the computer-based catalog, or the Library's website, there are myriad ways that we have taken advantage of computers. For some, the new technologies present a challenge, for others it is much easier. Let's look at the many ways we have incorporated technology at the Library.
First and foremost is the computer-based catalog that replaced the old card catalog. Here is where the real strength of computers has been brought to bear on the search for information. Whether the catalog is paper-based or computer-based, it is still a database. Searching a database, whether paper or electronic, can be either simple or complex. The paper version in the old maple cabinets always yielded a simple search – you plugged along one topic at a time – and that tended to be pretty time consuming.
The computer catalog always searches for the most information when you hit the button. That is why you get a list of similar spellings, similar topics, and so on. Quite often, a search term is misspelled, but with the computer's power, you can easily see a list that will show you the correct spelling, thereby reducing your time spent "hunting and pecking." With the many ways things have related links, computers make those "side searches," such as different authors who have written about the same topic.
Other ways in which the Library has gone electronic is in the form of books on tape, CD, Playaways and now, downloadable books. There has been, and will continue to be lengthy debates about the death of printed books. While I used other columns to discuss this topic, for now, consider the fact that by having books in a myriad of formats allows the "reader" to enjoy them in places you simply cannot read. Can you use your long commute to read a book in print, or can you simply pop a tape or CD into your car's player and still enjoy your reading time?
A number of years back, librarians debated whether to allow books on tape into the collection as they weren't really books. I am glad that we have concluded that debate in favor of their addition because we now have even more ways to offer our users access to the information they seek. Playaways and downloadable books are simply the next incarnation of the earlier formats.
We have all seen kids walking around with the Walkman players and iPods. We may mutter about how they are ignoring the world around them, but they are onto something – the ability to go anywhere and enjoy their music. Few adults have made the transition to owning an iPod or a similar device, and have considered a book on tape or CD something you only enjoy in your car or in front of your stereo system. With the advent of the Playaway, you can now enjoy your favorite book while taking a walk, or gardening, or doing your hobby.
The Playaway is an MP3 player, the equivalent of an iPod that has a single book loaded on it that you can easily carry around with you. Now, you don't even need to own your own player, but can simply use one of these to "read" a book on the go.
Once you get accustomed to reading on the go, you may well decide that you want other titles than the ones we offer on the Playaways. Now, the Library offers downloadable books that you can place on your own device. The offer the same convenience as Playaways, but you will find even more selection. These titles are available on our website by clicking on the link to "ebooks" under the Find Books and More heading.
And speaking of the website, any and all of our services are available on that electronic resource. Do you want to browse the catalog? Go to the website. Do you want to see what books you have checked out and maybe even renew them? Go to the website. Do you want to learn about the programs we are offering? Go to the website. It is the electronic doorway to Sedona Public Library. By the way, the address for the website is www.sedonalibrary.org
One can certainly be a book lover and still take advantage of the many electronic resources that the Library offers. But, if you find that some of them present a hurdle for you as you attempt to learn how to use them, simply seek help for the Library staff. We are happy to show all the features of our catalog, or how to download a book, or where you can find the information you need on our website. Just because we have many new electronic resources doesn't mean that we have abandoned our commitment to service to our users.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: July 11, 2008
Whenever you visit the Sedona Public Library, you are sure to find something new. Whether it is a book, an audiotape or book on CD, a Playaway audio book, a new movie on VHS or DVD, magazines, or whatever, if you are into new things you can pretty much find something here every day. But, there are also new displays all the time, each of which offers intriguing information on a subject. We have lots to look at here, and right now there are some fascinating displays.
First and foremost, there are always books on display. Sometimes the books are brand new to our collection, or if you are out in the stacks, you can find great titles you might otherwise overlook simply displayed on the shelves. The staff is always putting "new" old titles, books that have been on the shelves for awhile onto the display racks throughout the Library. So often folks go directly to the newest items on the shelves and pass by the older, but really wonderful titles. Spend a few minutes in the stacks noticing the recommended titles there. I'll bet you can easily find something interesting to read.
Also, just to the right of the front door as you enter is another display of books on topics that may be seasonal, current news, or just plain fun. Right now, we are displaying books on "summer fun," but recent ones have been on pets, Father's Day and so on. Check out the display and then check out the books!
On a table outside my office window is a display of pop-up books. These charming and fun books are for children and adults. We don't add pop-ups to the collection because they are so fragile and never last long. So, whenever we find or someone donates a good one, we keep it for just such a display as this. Take a look at the Book of Nightmares, or the bible story books. Or try flipping through the variety of ways that pop-ups are made. There are some real tricks to getting them to do what the author envisions. Give yourself about 20 minutes, though, to look at them because we have a lot!
Another way we provide displays is to ask the community to bring in things they wish to show off. Examples of course include the annual quilt display, as well as the local photography club's truly creative work. There is the Sustainability Resource Center that offers ideas on how to go green and conserve precious resources like our air, water and petroleum.
Right now, though, we have a really fascinating display of maps produced by local cartographer Alex DiNatale. He produced six maps, each with a unique story to tell. Maps come in all forms and each tells a different tale. Look in any atlas of quality and you will see maps that inform about borders, locations of geographical and political features, and highways. But, you will also find maps that describe the spread of populations, resources, historical information and more. Maps can tell all sorts of stories, limited only by the cartographer's imagination.
Mr. DiNatale has created six maps of local interest. These show horse trails and homesteads in Oak Creek Canyon, the Navajo Nation, Mormon Lake area, the San Francisco Peaks, and Bill Williams Mountain, as well as trans-canyon corridor trails in Grand Canyon. All drawn by hand, they show fascinating historic and geographic information that no other maps that I have seen offer.
They are on display around the main desk at the front of the Library where you check your books in and out. Take a few minutes to study these by picking up the guide sheets located at that desk that offer in depth explanations of each.
Lastly, take a look at Sakina's doll display which she changes quite often. She has a huge collection of dolls and a smart sense of what she is trying to say with her displays. You'll find it located near the fireplace area.
If you have an idea for a display that you would like to share with the rest of the community, please let us know by contacting us for a display proposal form. We would love to find ways to show your interesting ideas here.
Red Rock News
Date: July 11, 2008
Whenever you visit the Sedona Public Library, you are sure to find something new. Whether it is a book, an audiotape or book on CD, a Playaway audio book, a new movie on VHS or DVD, magazines, or whatever, if you are into new things you can pretty much find something here every day. But, there are also new displays all the time, each of which offers intriguing information on a subject. We have lots to look at here, and right now there are some fascinating displays.
First and foremost, there are always books on display. Sometimes the books are brand new to our collection, or if you are out in the stacks, you can find great titles you might otherwise overlook simply displayed on the shelves. The staff is always putting "new" old titles, books that have been on the shelves for awhile onto the display racks throughout the Library. So often folks go directly to the newest items on the shelves and pass by the older, but really wonderful titles. Spend a few minutes in the stacks noticing the recommended titles there. I'll bet you can easily find something interesting to read.
Also, just to the right of the front door as you enter is another display of books on topics that may be seasonal, current news, or just plain fun. Right now, we are displaying books on "summer fun," but recent ones have been on pets, Father's Day and so on. Check out the display and then check out the books!
On a table outside my office window is a display of pop-up books. These charming and fun books are for children and adults. We don't add pop-ups to the collection because they are so fragile and never last long. So, whenever we find or someone donates a good one, we keep it for just such a display as this. Take a look at the Book of Nightmares, or the bible story books. Or try flipping through the variety of ways that pop-ups are made. There are some real tricks to getting them to do what the author envisions. Give yourself about 20 minutes, though, to look at them because we have a lot!
Another way we provide displays is to ask the community to bring in things they wish to show off. Examples of course include the annual quilt display, as well as the local photography club's truly creative work. There is the Sustainability Resource Center that offers ideas on how to go green and conserve precious resources like our air, water and petroleum.
Right now, though, we have a really fascinating display of maps produced by local cartographer Alex DiNatale. He produced six maps, each with a unique story to tell. Maps come in all forms and each tells a different tale. Look in any atlas of quality and you will see maps that inform about borders, locations of geographical and political features, and highways. But, you will also find maps that describe the spread of populations, resources, historical information and more. Maps can tell all sorts of stories, limited only by the cartographer's imagination.
Mr. DiNatale has created six maps of local interest. These show horse trails and homesteads in Oak Creek Canyon, the Navajo Nation, Mormon Lake area, the San Francisco Peaks, and Bill Williams Mountain, as well as trans-canyon corridor trails in Grand Canyon. All drawn by hand, they show fascinating historic and geographic information that no other maps that I have seen offer.
They are on display around the main desk at the front of the Library where you check your books in and out. Take a few minutes to study these by picking up the guide sheets located at that desk that offer in depth explanations of each.
Lastly, take a look at Sakina's doll display which she changes quite often. She has a huge collection of dolls and a smart sense of what she is trying to say with her displays. You'll find it located near the fireplace area.
If you have an idea for a display that you would like to share with the rest of the community, please let us know by contacting us for a display proposal form. We would love to find ways to show your interesting ideas here.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: July 4, 2008
I have just returned from a trip to fish along the US/Canadian border and was casting around for a topic to write about for this column. When I get into that sort of predicament, I often go the shelves and find some interesting books that deserve special mention. In addition to fishing, I enjoy woodworking and so this week, I gravitated towards books on the subject that are among our newest additions.
First and foremost, readers of this column may recall that I often tout our magazines as the most up to date sources of information on a topic. Delivered weekly, monthly or quarterly, they tend to be "fresher" than a book that takes much longer to write and publish. If you are seeking the most recent information, start with the magazines. While woodworking may not seem to be a topic that requires really, really new information, we do carry two publications that come to us monthly – "Fine Woodworking" and "Fine Homebuilding." Both are published by Taunton Press, a company out of Connecticut that produces numerous titles focusing on crafts.
Their names describe their focus and they do an excellent job of offering tips, tricks, solutions, and very clearly rendered plans that can serve to untangle the thorniest problems that someone might face as they build a home or furniture. Published in color, they are a pleasure to look at and extremely useful for the reader.
You cannot do excellent work without good tools or a good work space. That's why Wood Magazine's How to Build a Great Home Workshop is such a treat. It offers excellent advise on customizing your work space, dust removal, shop heating systems, workshop safety and security, workbenches, storage for lumber, tools and parts, and even offers advise on stands, stools and supports. Also published in color and with simple and clear plans, you will want to gut your existing space and start over entirely after reading this valuable tome.
Black and Decker's Complete Guide to Windows & Entryways is another excellent reference manual as well as an idea book that is chock full of things your can do to improve these crucial points of any home. The most common points for leaks into your home, whether of rain water in or of heat escaping are your windows and doors, so building them correctly, installing them securely and tightly and doing so in a manner that is pleasing to the eye and absolutely functional makes them on a par with building chairs – much tougher than they appear. While not a comprehensive textbook, the book offers sufficient information that your next such project will turn out better for reading the information contained within its covers.
Author Doug Stowe has written a very handy book entitled, Basic Box Making. There is no end to the clever ways one can create this most basic of shapes and Stowe offers many basic tips and tricks to ensure that you produce an eye-catching item every time. His contention is that by learning the basics of a number of forms and features, you will have the solid foundation you need to create your own designs. He offers step-by-step instructions for a number of versions of boxes and you hardly know you are learning something useful when you are simply following along.
Many is the home that has a valued and valuable piece of furniture that has some flaw or problem that could use repair. Repairing the piece is one challenge, but ensuring a matching finish and even maintaining a valuable piece's worth is much more so. Ina Brosseau Marx and Allen Marx have written Furniture Restoration: Step-by-Step Tips and Techniques for Professional Results, a treasure trove of great ways to bring a worn or broken piece of furniture back to life and to refinish that piece expertly. Obviously, expert work requires years of efforts based on trial and error, but this book offers a savings of many years in its well written and sound advice on the subject. Even if you don't plan on doing the work yourself, you would do well to glance through it before taking your family heirloom to a workshop that does this work. At least you will know whereof you speak!
If you enjoy any craft or hobby, you are likely to find plenty of materials on the shelves or through the Network loan system that will improve your knowledge, advance your skills and ensure a better end product by reading the numerous titles we can offer you. Check out your hobby at the Sedona Public Library!
Red Rock News
Date: July 4, 2008
I have just returned from a trip to fish along the US/Canadian border and was casting around for a topic to write about for this column. When I get into that sort of predicament, I often go the shelves and find some interesting books that deserve special mention. In addition to fishing, I enjoy woodworking and so this week, I gravitated towards books on the subject that are among our newest additions.
First and foremost, readers of this column may recall that I often tout our magazines as the most up to date sources of information on a topic. Delivered weekly, monthly or quarterly, they tend to be "fresher" than a book that takes much longer to write and publish. If you are seeking the most recent information, start with the magazines. While woodworking may not seem to be a topic that requires really, really new information, we do carry two publications that come to us monthly – "Fine Woodworking" and "Fine Homebuilding." Both are published by Taunton Press, a company out of Connecticut that produces numerous titles focusing on crafts.
Their names describe their focus and they do an excellent job of offering tips, tricks, solutions, and very clearly rendered plans that can serve to untangle the thorniest problems that someone might face as they build a home or furniture. Published in color, they are a pleasure to look at and extremely useful for the reader.
You cannot do excellent work without good tools or a good work space. That's why Wood Magazine's How to Build a Great Home Workshop is such a treat. It offers excellent advise on customizing your work space, dust removal, shop heating systems, workshop safety and security, workbenches, storage for lumber, tools and parts, and even offers advise on stands, stools and supports. Also published in color and with simple and clear plans, you will want to gut your existing space and start over entirely after reading this valuable tome.
Black and Decker's Complete Guide to Windows & Entryways is another excellent reference manual as well as an idea book that is chock full of things your can do to improve these crucial points of any home. The most common points for leaks into your home, whether of rain water in or of heat escaping are your windows and doors, so building them correctly, installing them securely and tightly and doing so in a manner that is pleasing to the eye and absolutely functional makes them on a par with building chairs – much tougher than they appear. While not a comprehensive textbook, the book offers sufficient information that your next such project will turn out better for reading the information contained within its covers.
Author Doug Stowe has written a very handy book entitled, Basic Box Making. There is no end to the clever ways one can create this most basic of shapes and Stowe offers many basic tips and tricks to ensure that you produce an eye-catching item every time. His contention is that by learning the basics of a number of forms and features, you will have the solid foundation you need to create your own designs. He offers step-by-step instructions for a number of versions of boxes and you hardly know you are learning something useful when you are simply following along.
Many is the home that has a valued and valuable piece of furniture that has some flaw or problem that could use repair. Repairing the piece is one challenge, but ensuring a matching finish and even maintaining a valuable piece's worth is much more so. Ina Brosseau Marx and Allen Marx have written Furniture Restoration: Step-by-Step Tips and Techniques for Professional Results, a treasure trove of great ways to bring a worn or broken piece of furniture back to life and to refinish that piece expertly. Obviously, expert work requires years of efforts based on trial and error, but this book offers a savings of many years in its well written and sound advice on the subject. Even if you don't plan on doing the work yourself, you would do well to glance through it before taking your family heirloom to a workshop that does this work. At least you will know whereof you speak!
If you enjoy any craft or hobby, you are likely to find plenty of materials on the shelves or through the Network loan system that will improve your knowledge, advance your skills and ensure a better end product by reading the numerous titles we can offer you. Check out your hobby at the Sedona Public Library!
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