Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: June 20, 2008
Whew! Our surprisingly cool Spring has suddenly made the transition from "darned nice" to "x*!&# hot!" Aside for the usual methods of survival like getting up at the very crack of dawn and using the late afternoons and early evenings to get things done outside, what can the Sedona Public Library do to help you through these summer months?
One can always spend a number of hours here in the cool Library reading, attending programs or just sitting. We have lots of new books and magazines, a large array of daily newspapers and you can even watch a movie on DVD or VHS. Discussion groups like the Socrates Café and the Detective Club, or the 50th Anniversary Author series every Friday are also available. Do you have children? Bring them here to participate in the Summer Reading Program events, read to them, or spend time actually on the computers with them. Not only will you help them learn, but is there a better gift to give to your child than your time and attention?
Is your AC system at home giving your trouble? Maybe you can learn a thing or two about keeping it in top condition by checking out a book from the section on air conditioning in the 697s of the collection. I know it seems antithetical, but there are even books on solar air conditioning!
Maybe, getting up in the morning means gardening. Our collection of gardening books is extensive. We have books that will help you with the many challenges of gardening in this dry climate and the sandy soils we find here. Do you want to learn about how to install a low-water use drip irrigation system? We can help with the many titles on our shelves.
Do you use the cool hours to hike to keep yourself fit? Getting tired of the same old beaten paths? Check out a hiking book or two to learn of the hundreds of trails in this area, some of which you may not have known about.
As a parent, the Summer Reading Program, annually offered to children from pre-reading age to high school, presents programs and reading opportunities and incentives that will maintain your child's reading skills during the summer months in a fun and inspiring way. Our computers offer access to the Internet via controlled sites that are safe and we have links to activity sites you can share with your child. Again, time spent reading to and interacting with your children is the best gift you can give them.
If you are planning on vacationing this summer, our many travel books and titles on how to camp, where to stay (resort or campground), and things to do will give you the information you need to have a memorable vacation.
Then, of course, there is the simple summer pleasure of reading a good book. We are very proud of the fact that our collection here in the Sedona Public Library offers the newest and most talked about titles on the best seller lists. Our membership in the Yavapai Library Network give you access to 1.4 million titles throughout the county and access to them via our transit system means you can get them for free! Looking for something a bit more esoteric? Our Interlibrary Loan system gives access to libraries throughout the nation and the cost for obtaining an item from elsewhere is free if from a library within Arizona or $3 for postage for libraries beyond the state. A marked reduction in the cost of purchasing the title!
Over the years, I have spoken in this column of the fact that this Library has become a community center. Time spent within our four walls is an opportunity to meet your fellow community members and visitors to Sedona. More and more, people are seeking a "third place," not their home and not their place of work, but another place to meet others, be exposed to new ideas and make contact beyond themselves. The Library can be that third place. Come and spend time here enjoying the ambiance, the displays, the large collection, the people and the access to so much information and entertainment. You'll get away from the heat, learn new things that make the summers here more enjoyable and even give yourself that precious gift of slowing down when the hottest days are upon us.
