Keeber's Kolumn

Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: February 8, 2008



As part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations here at Sedona Public Library, we are presenting a weekly program called Reading on the Red Rocks. These are Meet the Author programs presented every Friday, either in the evening, or during the Noon hour as a Brown Bag Lunch series. The presenters will be local, regional, national, and children’s authors. The programs are free, but as the ads on television say, “priceless.”

This past week, Tucson author Nancy Turner who wrote These Is My Words, The Star Garden and other titles gave the kickoff program for the series and she was absolutely charming and entertaining. During her program, she made an intriguing statement that caught my attention. She said, “Stories bear the truth we really want to tell.” Her point, it seemed, was that often we tell stories that bear out experiences we have had without having to tell the more difficult first hand story. The story in its “fictional” guise allows the writer to speak to their own life or that of another they know by keeping at something of an arm’s length.

Ms. Turner read from her latest novel, The Star Garden, with passages that truly came alive both from her skilled reading, but from having recently made that point above. While the tale is that of her great grandmother, fictionalized, Turner made the point that many of the things in the tale we either her experiences or her hoped-for experiences.

Additionally, Turner spoke to details of how she writes that was very informative, as well as entertaining. It was a great evening and one that bodes well for the entire series.

It is the success of that first evening that really prompts me to encourage you to attend future programs. Friday, February 8th is a Noon hour presentation by James Endredy about his book Beyond 2012, and the following week is local author Mary Ross Smith with her personal memoir, Soul Survivor. Throughout our series, you can learn in advance who will be presenting by picking up a free bookmark at the Circulation desk, checking our events calendar or picking up a paper copy of that calendar here at the Library. Don’t miss one of these programs as I am sure they will all be fascinating.

One another note, entirely, the Friends of the Library on-line sales project needs more volunteers, now that there are two computers available for listing books. This new aspect of the Friends’ book sales has grown in its success over the past months. Essentially, books of considerable value that would not otherwise sell for high dollars in the monthly or twice-yearly sales are offered online to special collectors. The returns from these sales have been significant and offer the Friends a wonderful new avenue for obtaining the funds that support this Library. With nearly two pickup trucks full of books being donated weekly, the number of exceptional books grows and grows. More hands are needed and the work is really pretty interesting.

Requirements are enthusiasm for on-line sales, minimal level of computer literacy (e.g. experience with e-mail or surfing the web), and love of books. Previous on-line selling experience is wonderful, but not necessary. If you are interested and will to help out, email the Friends of Sedona Library Online Book Sales at sedonafossilz@yahoo.com. We really can use your help.

Over the past few months, a group has met weekly on Fridays to discuss personal investing. While not the Beardstown Women sort of thing, the group gathers to discuss their investing strategies, ideas, successes and failures. There is no fee to join and there is no need to attend every meeting. But, if you would like to participate in this informal gathering, the Investment Strategy group meets Fridays at 11 AM in the Quiet Study room. Come try it out.

There is so much going on here at Sedona Public Library. Be sure to check out our online Calendar of Events or pick up a copy of the calendar when you visit us next.



There are author presentations planned throughout the year, so be sure to visit the Library's Events Calendar on our website (www.sedonalibrary.org) and mark your calendar. Much more is planned throughout the year. Don't miss a single program.